[blackwasp]

Indian Airforce is all set to induct the first batch of the indigenously developed Light Combat Helicopter (LCH). This helicopter will join the existing fleet of Apache and Chinook helicopters. The first LCH squadron will be raised at Jodhpur today.



The LCH was developed in-house, by the Rotary Wing Research and Design Centre (RWR&DC), an internal design office of HAL dedicated to the design of helicopters. The helicopter features a 2-person tandem cockpit for the pilot and the co-pilot / gunner. It measures 15.8 m in length, 4.7 m in height and has a wingspan of 4.6 m. It is powered by twin Shakti engines each rated at 1,383.9 BHP. These engines have been developed jointly with French engine maker Safran.

One of the unique features of the Light Combat Helicopter is its operating ceiling of 21,300 feet. This makes it suitable for operating at high altitudes in the Himalayas. The LCH has the distinction of being the first attack helicopter to land at Siachen, with helipads located at heights of 13,600-15,800 feet.



The LCH has a maximum speed of 268 km/h and a range of 550 km (with armaments) with an endurance of 3 hours 10 minutes. The helicopter has a 20 mm M261 cannon along with the provision of 4 hardpoints to carry a combination of rockets, missiles and bombs.



Apart from the Air Force, the Indian Army will also be inducting the LCH for the newly raised Army Aviation Corps based out of Bangalore.

Link to Team-BHP News Article

Source: Times of India

[saikarthik]

Originally Posted by blackwasp

The helicopter has a 120 mm M261 cannon along with the provision of 4 hardpoints to carry a combination of rockets, missiles and bombs.
Apart from the Air Force, the Indian Army will also be inducting the LCH for the newly raised Army Aviation Corps based out of Bangalore.

One correction, the turret gun is 20 mms not 120mm.

Army has formally inducted one LCH on last Thursday, expects another this month. A huge boost for ground support, and a lethal joint capabilities when operated with AH-64Es.

Not sure if the below images are correct, but according to the source: https://thaimilitaryandasianregion.w...ter-lch-india/, evolution of LCH design,

Image Credits: thaimilitaryandasianregion

[V.Narayan]

Light Combat Helicopter Prachand

A remarkable achievement for the combined teams of HAL, DRDO, IAF and the Indian Army Aviation Corps. We need this machine in vast numbers like in the hundreds. And as it is made in India, albeit with a lot of French & Israeli systems, it should be cheaper than buying from abroad. It is well suited for what our needs are vis-a-vis a China in the high Himalayas and a Pakistan with its relatively limited conventional assets. As a part of an optimal hi-lo mix with the AH-64 Apache the LCH is a robust lo end of that mix. For those not familiar 'hi' does not mean superior and 'lo' does not mean inferior. These terms refer to the equipment and the military need on the ground. Most situations demand a high quality 'lo' asset, with great avionics, in adequate numbers.



If you observe the LCH helicopter it has all the attributes of an attack machine - from front to back - the chin mounted 20mm Nexter gun, the nose mounted sensors, the tandem seating in armoured crash resistant seats behind thickened transparencies, the stub wings that enhance lift and carry the guided and unguided missiles/rockets and other munitions, the crash absorbing main landing gear, upturned engine exhausts {to reduce infra red signature as seen by a heat seeking missile fired by enemy ground troops. What cannot be seen are the crash resistant fuel tanks. The only part I don't like is that ungainly tail landing gear that sticks out rather embarrassingly like an after thought.



These four pylons mounted on the stub wings can carry a range of munitions - the ones made public are - FN 70mm unguided rockets, a Thales equivalent 70mm rocket that is laser guided, Mistral heat seeking air-to-air missile, Cluster sub-munitions, Grenade launchers and the yet to enter service Dhruvastra anti-tank missile. I suppose till the Dhruvastra really gets into service an alternate will be mated to the LCH Prachand.



FN 70mm unguided rocket pod. range up to 3000 metres. Can be more depending on speed and altitude oft he launch platform. Typical warheads are high explosive fragmentation, anti-personnel, anti-tank warheads, smoke or illuminating.


Mistral Infra red guided AAM. Range 500 to 6000 metres. Would be most effective against other helicopters and low-slow aircraft. A great addition. Shooting down a helicopter from a fast combat jet is a nightmare with the odds in favour of the helicopter.


Dhruvastra anti-tank laser guided missile. User trials are believed to have been completed.


The LCH is furnished with a glass cockpit which accommodates an Integrated Avionics and Display System (IADS) which uses an array of multifunction displays in conjunction with the onboard target acquisition and designation (TADS) system linked to the helmet mounted sight (HMS). The TADS and HMS are the principal instruments for targeting and triggering the rotorcraft's armaments. The LCH is protected by a electronic warfare suite which, among other pieces, includes a radar warning receiver, laser warning receiver and a missile approach warning system. Other major avionics on board are an integrated data link for network-centric operations, low light TV camera, forward looking infrared (FLIR) imaging sensor, a laser rangefinder and a laser designator to facilitate target acquisition under all-weather day and night conditions.


The piece de resistance of the Prachand is the Turbomeca-HAL Shakti engine that develops 1384 shp each maximum continuous rating. The engine is designed to generate a high rpm even at high ambient temperatures/high altitudes which give the Prachand its outstanding hot and high flying ability. An incredibly reliable engine in rough conditions from my own experience with a civilian HAL Dhruv. The French design world beating engines. This is the 2nd hot and high helicopter engine they have developed for us. The first being the virtually unbreakable Artouste turboshaft fitted on the HAL Cheetah.

Are we capable of designing an attack helicopter such as the AH-64 Apache - no not yet. Are we on track to get there in 10 to 15 years - we certainly seem to be.


Jai Hind

[saikarthik]

Originally Posted by saikarthik

Attachment 2364166

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

These four pylons mounted on the stub wings can carry a range of munitions.

Sir, I have this one question on the combination of munitions that's possible to carry at a time. Even in the image in my previous post (quoted), the armament is symmetrical on both the sides. I can assume that, the choice depends on the type of the mission and also the balance. But is it possible to carry the combination of armaments asymmetrically? Have you seen it in any gunships?

[dragracer567]

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

Light Combat Helicopter Prachand

Not really a fan of the 'Prachand' name though. Doesn't have the same ring to it or the coolness factor as 'Tejas' or 'Rudra'. Perhaps this would've been more apt for a transport aircraft!

[V.Narayan]

Originally Posted by saikarthik

Sir, I have this one question on the combination of munitions that's possible to carry at a time. Even in the image in my previous post (quoted), the armament is symmetrical on both the sides. I can assume that, the choice depends on the type of the mission and also the balance. But is it possible to carry the combination of armaments asymmetrically? Have you seen it in any gunships?

Within narrow limits it is possible to carry asymmetric loads. Infact after some of the munitions have been fired and some have not asymmetry will result - e.g. a Mistral AAM on the port wing has been fired while the FN70mm rocket pods are still being carried as is the AAM on the starboard side. How much of weight differential a helicopter can take will be a function of its MTOW, payload, power to weight ratio and rotor design. The flight envelope is limited with differential weights on either wing. Given the payload limits of any light helicopter a flight of four flying on a mission together they might carry a mix of munitions between them so that as a whole they are delivering what is needed to get the job done.

Originally Posted by dragracer567

Not really a fan of the 'Prachand' name though. Doesn't have the same ring to it or the coolness factor as 'Tejas' or 'Rudra'. Perhaps this would've been more apt for a transport aircraft!

All perceptions. :-) Prachand in Hindi means fierce or even furious more accurately fierce. I like Prachand and Rudra but not Tejas. Poor IAF they can never please us all.

[motorpsycho]

An excellent article was posted today by IAF Veteran Air Commodore Nitin Sathe, goes into engineering challenges and people involved in the development.

Article 1 and 2

We were a show of force to the enemy

LCH Outperformed Other Aircraft In Ladakh

[DrPriyankT]

Three additional points to what V.Narayan sir has mentioned.
1) The variants currently inducted are Limited Serial Production variants. They are not equipped with self protection suites, ie Missile Approach Warning systems, Radar Warning Receivers and Laser Warning Systems, similar to what the Rudra helicopters are. However they will be outfitted in the serial production variants.

2) A desi longbow type millimeteric wave radar system is under development which will multiply the capabilities of this already capable chopper. As a matter of fact, the SANT anti tank missile which will have a standoff range and has already been tested has a millimeteric wave seeker in development.

3) A desi turboshaft engine named HTSE-1500 is already under testing at HAL, and it may be used to re-engine this chopper. It will have 1500-1600 SHP and if installed will further increase its already impressive power to weight ratio.

As a side note, the navy should also look at this chopper to fly off the decks of future amphibious assault warships, in a similar role to what the AH-1Z cobra does for the US Marine Corps.

[dragracer567]

Sticking with the name, is it Prachand or Prachanda?

[RedTerrano]

Originally Posted by dragracer567

Sticking with the name, is it Prachand or Prachanda?

As they say, it's lost in translation, or rather, transliteration in this case.
The correct conversion will be
प्रचंड > pracaṃḍa (as per IAST)

Those who are curious, here is a link which can take in Devanagari input and converts it to IAST
https://www.lexilogos.com/keyboard/s...conversion.htm

Also, pracaṃḍa reminded me of this awesome song

https://youtu.be/r6SbfF9FjTg

[V.Narayan]

I kind of loved the Rudra. It was of the same design philosophy as the Westland Lynx Army attack helicopter. And could carry a gunner and reloads in the cabin aft of the cockpit. Any expert thoughts why we went for the Prachand redesign instead of improving on the Rudra. We seem to have ~91 Rudra's in service and 75 odd more on order. So clearly it is a design the Armed forces are pleased with. Trying to trigger a conversation {for my own knowledge} as to what does the Prachand do that a Rudra cannot. Mind you I'm not taking away anything from the proud development of the Prachand. The one big improvement, other than tandem seating and armour I see is in the payload.

[condor]

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

Any expert thoughts why we went for the Prachand redesign instead of improving on the Rudra.

Horses for courses ? Rudra can carry more people, but Prachand looks purely for attack purposes - a very focussed set up and design.

[Gaur]

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

I kind of loved the Rudra. It was of the same design philosophy as the Westland Lynx Army attack helicopter. And could carry a gunner and reloads in the cabin aft of the cockpit. Any expert thoughts why we went for the Prachand redesign instead of improving on the Rudra. We seem to have ~91 Rudra's in service and 75 odd more on order. So clearly it is a design the Armed forces are pleased with. Trying to trigger a conversation {for my own knowledge} as to what does the Prachand do that a Rudra cannot. Mind you I'm not taking away anything from the proud development of the Prachand. The one big improvement, other than tandem seating and armour I see is in the payload.

My guess.
Tandem seating helping gunner with better visibility, narrower/smaller front cross section helping with stealth feature and minimizing target area for adversaries.

[V.Narayan]

Originally Posted by condor

Horses for courses ? Rudra can carry more people, but Prachand looks purely for attack purposes - a very focussed set up and design.

Rudra is the attack variant developed from the Dhruv armed transport version. Rudra's avionics and weapon package is similar to Prachand, at least what is available in the public domain.

All,

For those nay sayers who will criticize anything Indian I want to share that in my erstwhile business we operated a Dhruv for almost 2 years in the field on a very complex {from a flying & navigation point of view} low altitude operation of about 1800 hours* and found the machine to be a throughbred. The same cannot be said of HAL's A.S.S. and attitudes though!

*In terms of flying effort and stress on the machine a helicopters flying hour is equal to several flying hours of a commercial jet.

[Dieseltuned]

It is a tremendous achievement, coming on the lines of Tejas and Dhruv.

The other important aspect that we should also remember is that all the efforts made towards indigenization saves us precious foreign exchange.

There is no information in the public domain on :

1. How many Dhruv and Rudra in active service (in all branches of service) and plans to ramp up production of these machines ?

2. The LCH HU was set up with 3 helis delivered, what is the plan and how many have been approved for production ?