HAL LCH or the light combat helicopter is an indigenous attack helicopter that is set to replace the heavy attack helicopter used in the Indian armed forces. Air superiority places a vital role in the case of war. While fighter jets are in the frontline for this purpose they lack the agility and manoeuvrability which the helicopters brings. Attack helicopters help the troops in the frontline to progress further into enemy territory and also destroy field guns, communication centre etc. The variety of missile it carries helps it to do different purposes. LCH is one of the best attack helicopters in the world lets take a peek into the LCH.
DESIGN
The attack helicopter is designed for anti-infantry and anti-armour operations. The helicopter is made of a light composite material which makes it light in weight and thus increases it manoeuvrability. The skin of the copter is a digital camouflage which makes it visibility hard. The pin type header of the helicopter reduces it radar cross section.
The Helicopter has 2 shakti turbo-shaft engines and 2 crew cockpit. The fuselage is narrow and sleek making it unique as it cuts down the radar cross-section. The fuel tanks are crashworthy and self-sealing thus, increase the safety of the crew and machine.
AVIONICS
The LCH has a bulletproof cockpit glass which also acts as a display panel. The helicopter also has forward looking infrared camera fo the purpose of target acquisition. There is also a laser rangefinder and designator for the purpose of finding the range and designating a target for attack purpose. The pilot/ WSO has helmet mounted sight for an attack.
In Defence of the helicopter, it has electronic warfare suit with radar warning, laser warning and missile approach warning systems. The LCH is also network-centric which facilitates it to transmit data to airborne and ground platforms.
ARMAMENT
The LCH is one the most heavily armed combat helicopters in the world. It is on par with the apache of the US. It has 4 hardpoints and a machine gun for its attack purposes. The hardpoints are mounted with an array of rockets and bombs.
Gun: 1x20mm M621 canon
Rockets: 4x 70/80mm rockets ( This was tested in the IRON FIST exercise of the IAF this year)
Missile: 4x air-to-air MISTRAL missile, Anti- radiation missile, 2x HELINA , LAHAT (anti-tank missile)
Bombs: 4x 250kg Bombs ( An array of Guide bombs, cluster bombs, grenade launchers)
MISSION TESTING
The LCH was made to counter the gap that the Indian armed forces felt during the Kargil 1999. The LCH is made for operations in high altitude as well as operations in hot deserts of Rajasthan. The all-weather performance of the helicopter makes its very unique compared to other attack helicopters of the world. The LCH operational height is 6500m which is helpful in the ice terrains of the Himalayas
The LCH successfully completed hot weather test in jodhpur in the month of June last year, while the cold weather trails took place in Leh.
Recently, the weapons trails of the LCH was started and is progressing without any glitch. The helicopter was tested for its firepower of the 70mm rockets and the forward mounted cannon. The other weapon systems are expected to be put to a test. The army aviation corps is expected to take 114 of the LCH while the IAF is looking to buy 65 of them. Once the testing is completed the production shall start and India will be possessing of the best attack helicopter in the world.
