India’s Defence Ministry landmark industry the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited located at Kanpur has achieved a very big success in developing a Light Fighter Helicopter. It has capability to shoot down enemy fighter planes and even missiles in the mid-air operation.
It is named as LCH (Light Combat Helicopter). Its specialty is that it can hit a moving targets with precision. Very soon it will be inducted into the Indian Air Force. It is first time that a defence industry has developed such sophisticated state of art helicopter.
Recently in the ongoing political controversy on Made in France Rafale Fighter plane the Congress President Mr.Rahul Gandhi charged the Modi Government of neglecting the public defence sector reputed Hindustan Aeronautics in associating it with Rafale Make in India project to oblige private sector Reliance of Anil Ambani to be partner of the French firm.
It is the Hindustan Aeronautics which has developed and manufactured India’s first own fighter jet plane “Tejas” which has joined the Indian Air Force. Mr.Gandhi also pointed out Anil Ambani’s Reliance has no experience or expertise in plane making industry, Hindustan Aeronautics has already made India’s first fighter plane “Tejas”.He regretted that capable industry HAL has been ignored in favour private industrialist.
Uptil now India is world’s largest buyer of armaments from foreign countries mostly from Russia, America, Britain and France. So far we are purchasing helicopters from Britain the westland helicopters from Britain and VIP helicopters Augasta from Italy. In Italian copter deal massive corruption has come to fore and even the ex-Indian Air Force Chief Air Marshal Tyagi is involved in it and facing charges in the CBI investigations and court.
Now helicopter has achieved greater acceptability in its capacity to land anywhere a very small ordinarily made helipad. In time of calamity like floods it is of great help in rescue operation of marooned people.
The Light Combat Helicopter has passed successfully all the test of its weaponry. It is ready for all operational services. Its capability was tested at Chandipur Testing sites and it passed in all exercises. In testing it has fired a missile and hit the target. From this LCH Helicopter powerful 20 mm Turet Gns and 70 mm Rockets were also successfully test fired.
The HAL has claimed that it is only helicopter in the world which can reach upto the height of Siachin. This helicopter is designed and developed by the Rotary Wing Research and Design Centre. Specially for the requirement of Indian Air Force on its upper portion Special Infrared sighting system has been installed which will enable pilot to locate any target in the Air or Land. It can hit a target without turning and fire a missile. It can fly at a lower height also.
Ten LCH helicopters will join Indian Air Force soon and five will be inducted in the Indian Army.