New Delhi: Coinciding with Air Force Day on October 8, the Indian Air Force (IAF) will formally raise its first unit of indigenous Light Combat Helicopters (LCHs) on October 3 in Jodhpur. The induction ceremony will be led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
The first unit will comprise of ten LCHs. The LCHs getting inducted into the force is capable of aerial combat and will help the force combat slow-moving aircraft, drones and armoured columns during conflicts. Of the 15 limited series production helicopters approved, 10 are for the IAF and five for the army. It can land and take off from an altitude of 5,000 metres with weapons and fuel. The choppers have been flown extensively in Ladakh and the desert sector to meet the requirements of the armed forces. In March 2022, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) had approved procurement of 15 Limited Series Production (LSP) variants of the LCH at the cost of Rs 3,887 crore along with infrastructure sanctions worth Rs 377 crore.
The IAF operates the older Russian Mi-25 and Mi-35 attack helicopters, of which one squadron has been phased out following the induction of 22 Boeing AH-64E Apache attack helicopters. According to a defence official, the existing Mi-35 squadron is in the process of being sent for overhaul which will extend its life by many years. The IAF has inducted multiple helicopters to its fleet in the last three-four years with the induction of the Chinooks, Apache attack helicopters and now the LCHs. The IAF is now also deploying women pilots in Chinook choppers carrying routine supply missions to the northern and eastern borders.
In June 2022, the Army raised its first LCH squadron in Bengaluru. The unit will move to Eastern Command along the Line of Actual Control (LCH) on completion of the raising next year. The Army plans to acquire 95 LCHs of which seven units, each having 10 helicopters, are planned to be deployed for combat role in the mountains.
According to the Defence Ministry statement, the LCH LSP is an indigenously designed, developed and manufactured state-of-the-art modern combat helicopter containing approximately 45% indigenous content by value which will progressively increase to more than 55% for Series Production Version. The LCH is the first dedicated attack helicopter of the Army, which otherwise operates 75 Rudra helicopters, the weaponised variant of the indigenous Advanced Light Helicopter.
