HAL Prachand

Prachand
A HAL Prachand of No. 143 Helicopter Unit, IAF
General information
TypeAttack helicopter
National originIndia
ManufacturerHindustan Aeronautics Limited
DesignerRotary Wing Research and Design Centre[1]
StatusLimited series production
In deployment
Primary usersIndian Army
Number built19 (4 TD, 15 LSP)[2]
History
Manufactured2017 – present
Introduction date3 October 2022[3]
First flight29 March 2010
Developed fromHAL Dhruv

The HAL Prachand (lit. 'Giant' or 'Intense') is an Indian multi-role light attack helicopter designed and manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) under Project Light Combat Helicopter (LCH).[4] It has been ordered by the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Indian Army's Aviation Corps (AAC).[5] On 3 October 2022, the LCH was formally inducted into the IAF and was officially named "Prachand".[6]

The true impetus for the development of the LCH Prachand came in the form of the Kargil War, a conflict fought between India and neighbouring Pakistan in 1999, which revealed the Indian Armed Forces lacked a suitable armed rotorcraft capable of operating unrestricted in the high-altitude theatre.[7] Accordingly, both HAL and the Indian Armed Forces commenced exploratory efforts towards the conceptualisation of a combat helicopter to perform in this role. During 2006, the company announced that it had launched a development programme to produce such a rotorcraft, referred to simply as the LCH or Light Combat Helicopter. Originally, the LCH was anticipated to attain initial operating capability (IOC) by December 2010. However, development of the type was protracted and subject to several delays, some of which having been attributed to suppliers.

The LCH Prachand drew extensively on an earlier indigenous helicopter developed and manufactured by HAL, the HAL Dhruv; using this rotorcraft as a starting point has been attributed as significantly reducing the cost of the programme.[8] On 29 March 2010, the first LCH prototype performed its maiden flight. An extensive test programme, involving a total of four prototypes, was conducted. During the course of these tests, the LCH gained the distinction of being the first attack helicopter to land in Siachen, having repeatedly landed at several high altitude helipads, some of which being as high as 13,600 to 15,800 feet (4,100 to 4,800 meters). During mid-2016, the LCH was recognised as having completed its performance trials, paving way for the certification of its basic configuration.

  1. ^ "Rotary Wing". Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  2. ^ "Analyst Meet 17 May 2023" (PDF). Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. 17 May 2023.
  3. ^ "Indigenously Designed and Developed Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) inducted into Indian Air Force". PIB Delhi ( 3 October 2023 ). Press Information Bureau.
  4. ^ Bhasin, Swati (3 October 2022). "'Prachand': 1st made-in-India light combat helicopters". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 16 March 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference cutting teeth was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ "IAF names HAL LCH Helicopter as 'Prachand', Defence Minister Rajnath Singh takes a sortie: WATCH". Zee News. Archived from the original on 29 October 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  7. ^ Singh, Suchet Vir (3 October 2022). "IAF gets indigenous Light Combat Helicopter 'Prachand' after 23-yr journey that began after Kargil". ThePrint. Archived from the original on 14 October 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  8. ^ "HAL Light Combat Helicopter (LCH)". Airforce Technology. GlobalData. Archived from the original on 16 January 2013. Retrieved 3 October 2022.