New Delhi, October 27, 2026 (ANI): The Indian Army and the Indian Air Force are preparing to place orders for around 200 indigenous Light Utility Helicopters (LUH) from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), as part of a broader effort to replace their ageing Cheetah and Chetak fleets. Defence officials indicated that HAL has already produced 12 LUH aircraft, with orders for an additional 187 units in the pipeline. This would take the total to approximately 199 helicopters, with the project estimated to be worth over ₹20,000 crore.
The two services have a combined requirement of around 400 light helicopters. Of these, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, on October 26 accorded Acceptance of Necessity for the procurement of 200 Light Multirole Helicopters (LMRH) at an estimated cost of about ₹20,000 crore. The Indian Army is expected to issue a tender for these platforms, under which Indian companies—including Tata (partnering with Airbus) and the Adani Group (partnering with Leonardo of Italy)—would collaborate with global original equipment manufacturers to build the helicopters in India. Bell Helicopters of the United States is also expected to participate. The contract is likely to be split between the L1 and L2 bidders. Reports indicate that roughly 120 of the LMRH are earmarked for the Army and 80 for the Air Force.
Officials noted that the Army and Air Force are expected to operate three different types of light helicopters, with approximately 50 per cent sourced from private-sector firms and the remainder from public-sector manufacturers such as HAL. This dual-track approach addresses the long-pending requirement to retire around 400 Cheetah and Chetak helicopters in the coming years.
The HAL LUH is a new-generation 3-ton class helicopter designed specifically as a replacement for the Cheetah and Chetak. It features a glass cockpit with multi-function displays and is powered by a single Ardiden-1U turboshaft engine, providing adequate power margins for demanding high-altitude missions. According to HAL, the helicopter is designed for a maximum speed of around 220–235 km/h, a service ceiling of 6.5 km, a range of 350 km with a 500 kg payload, and a maximum take-off weight of 3,150 kg. It can accommodate a crew of two and up to six passengers and is intended for roles including reconnaissance and surveillance, logistics support, troop movement, casualty evacuation, training, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, particularly in high-altitude areas from Siachen to the Northeast.
The LUH programme has progressed through extensive trials, including high-altitude testing. Certification is in its final stages, and HAL aims to deliver the initial limited-series production batch of 12 helicopters (six each for the Army and Air Force) in FY 2027–28. Production is centred at HAL’s dedicated facility in Tumakuru, Karnataka. Previous attempts to replace the Cheetah and Chetak fleets—including the selection of the Russian Ka-226T in 2014 and earlier tenders—did not materialise, leaving the services dependent on the vintage platforms for critical frontier operations.
The move is expected to strengthen operational capabilities along India’s northern and northeastern borders while boosting the domestic helicopter manufacturing ecosystem, including medium and small-scale industries, in line with the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. The Indian Navy is separately procuring light maritime helicopters for search-and-rescue and other roles.
