HAL looks to build light helicopters to develop medium chopper expertise

The second and concluding part of the series on India's indigenous aerospace industry traces HAL's strategy to retain its position as the country's top-performing defence PSU

- AJAI SHUKLA

Since the early-1960s, by designing and building the HF-24 Marut and assembling MiG-21 fighters from Soviet blueprints, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) has built a healthy income stream from fixed-wing combat aircraft.

Now, with the income stream from assembling Sukhoi-30MKI fighters running dry, HAL is looking towards building helicopters to retain its position as India's top performing defence public sector undertaking (DPSU).

HAL chief CB Ananthakrishnan, briefing Business Standard on an exclusive visit to HAL, says more than 320 Dhruv advanced light helicopters (ALHS) have been delivered to the Army, Navy and Indian Air Force (IAF).

Prachanda LCH

In addition, the eponymous Prachanda Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), which has impressed regional air show audiences with its thrilling aerobatics performances, has received its first orders.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has ordered 10 Prachanda LCHS for the IAF and another five for the Army. This is just the tip of the iceberg. The IAF and the Army intend to buy 162 Prachanda LCHS - 65 for the former and 97 for the latter.

The MoD's hesitant purchase of 15 LCHS is called a Limited Series Production (LSP) order. These choppers will be flown by IAF and Army pilots to gauge their performance and capability. They will provide performance feedback and recommend design improvements to HAL.

The 5.8 tonne, twin-pilot Prachanda LCH can operate at altitudes up to 20,000 feet, higher than any other attack helicopter anywhere. It has demonstrated its ability to land on, and take off from, helipads at 15,000-feet altitude at Siachen Glacier with combat loads of fuel and weaponry.