India Approves Sale of 15 HAL-Built Light Combat Helicopters for $513M

India’s Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approved the procurement of 15 Light Combat Helicopters (LCH) at the cost of $513 million (INR 3,887 Crore) along with Infrastructure sanctions worth $50 million (INR 377 Crore).

Light Combat Helicopter Limited Series Production (LSP) is an indigenously designed, developed and manufactured state of the art modern combat helicopter containing approx. 45% indigenous content by value which will progressively increase to more than 55% for SP Version. Ten helicopters will be produced for the Indian Air Force (IAF) while another 5 will be built for the Indian Army.

The Indian defence ministry claims that the helicopter is equipped with requisite agility, maneuverability, extended range, high altitude performance and around-the-clock, all-weather combat capability to perform roles of Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR), Destruction of Enemy Air Defence (DEAD), Counter Insurgency (CI) operations, against slow moving aircraft and Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPAs), high altitude bunker busting operations, Counter Insurgency operations in jungle and urban environments and support to ground forces. Latest technologies and systems compatible with stealth features such as reduced Visual, Aural, Radar and IR signatures and crashworthiness features for better survivability have been integrated in LCH for deployment in combat roles catering to emerging needs for next 3 to 4 decades. Several key aviation technologies like Glass Cockpit and composite airframe structure have been indigenised. The future Series Production version will consist of further modern & indigenous systems.