India’s first Light Combat Helicopter makes first flight

India’s first indigenously developed light combat helicopter (LCH) took to the skies on March 29. The first technology demonstrator of Indian defence aviation major Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) lifted off for its maiden flight at Helicopter Complex, Bangalore. The flight marked the successful culmination of three years of design and development efforts by Rotary Wing Research & Design Centre of Helicopter Complex.

According to HAL, the performance of the helicopter and systems was satisfactory and the 20 minute flight provided the pilots opportunity to carryout low speed, low altitude checks on the various systems on-board.

HAL Chairman Ashok Nayak said, “It is a two pilot helicopter to be used only for combat operations.” He added, “It will take another 2-3 years for the helicopter to be in service. New equipment will be integrated.”

The LCH is a dedicated attack helicopter derived from the advanced light helicopter-Dhruv fitted with weapon systems, mission systems and crashworthy wheel landing gear with in-built stealth characteristics.

HAL informs, a full-fledged qualification test programme would follow leading to initial operation clearance by December 2011 towards induction into Indian armed forces.