156 Light Combat Helicopters: ₹62,700 Crore HAL Contracts
Why in the news
The Defence Ministry placed a big order with HAL for home-built combat helicopters after Cabinet Committee on Security clearance.
Key facts
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Quantity | 156 LCH plus training equipment |
| Army / IAF split | 90 / 66 |
| Indigenous content | 65% expected |
| Domestic firms | 250+, mostly MSMEs |
| Jobs | 8,500 direct and indirect |
About the LCH
- India’s first home-designed combat helicopter, able to operate above 5,000 metres.
- 15 Limited Series Production units were inducted earlier for ₹4,264 crore; the IAF unit is 143 Helicopter Unit ‘Dhanush’ (Jodhpur), October 2022; the Army’s first squadron was raised 1 June 2022 and is at Misamari, Assam.
Other deals
- Wet lease of one KC-135 refueller from Metrea Management for pilot training.
- An order for 97 LCA-Mk1A is expected soon.
Exam angle
- Supports Atmanirbhar Bharat; manufacturer HAL.