Bengaluru: Army Chief General Manoj Pandey on Tuesday said the Army is looking at procuring around 95 Prachanda Light Combat Helicopters (LCH) for mountain warfare as well as around 110 Light Utility Helicopters (LUH) to replace the aging Cheetahs and Chetaks. are for
Speaking on the sidelines of the ongoing Aero India event in Bengaluru, he said as the Army is getting the initial six Advanced Light Helicopters (ALHs) from HAL, it has sought some improvements like autopilot capability.
In addition, the Army is expected to receive all six American Apache attack helicopters ordered in 2024, and any additional orders will depend on how Prachanda shapes up, Gen Pandey said in response to ThePrint’s query .
“We have a combat aviation branch which is equipped with advanced light helicopters equipped with weapons and known as ALH WSI. There are about 45 such helicopters. We currently have five LCHs, out of which three have been delivered. We are looking at around 90-95 LCHs in total.
The Army Chief said the LCH is very versatile in terms of mobility and has been found to be “better suited for altitude”. LCHs are for massive mountains, he said.
ThePrint had informed of While both the IAF and the Army have raised their first squadrons of the LCH, the helicopter still lacks its main armament and protection suite and will take time to become fully operational.
The LCH helicopter – also known as the tank buster – will get its anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) only by mid-2023. Sources in the defense and security establishment told ThePrint that while it is integrated with the air-to-air missile launcher, the missile is yet to be ordered.
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Relevance of helicopters in war
Army chief said the anti-tank missile selected for LCH was Swadeshi Helenawhich has approved the tests.
“But the integration of the missile with the weapon platform is very important and it is something we are very keen on,” he said.
Talking about the indigenous LUHs, the Army Chief said that they come under the category of reconnaissance and surveillance.
Gen Pandey said the Army has about 250 Cheetahs and Chetaks, which will be replaced by the LUH. Although the Army is looking at around 110 of these, he said the number will increase over time.
Asked whether the Army was heavily dependent on attack helicopters – which have proved to be a disaster in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war – Gen Pandey said helicopters would have relevance in future warfare. He said it is a constant game between helicopter and anti-helicopter systems, just as it is with tanks and anti-tank systems.
“The new helicopters will have multiple suites to operate in a competitive environment,” he added.
The Army Chief also said that indigenization of air defense guns is a priority for the force and the Integrated Electronic Warfare System is being tested along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
(Edited by Uttara Ramaswamy)
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