LCH Prachand: HAL-Built Combat Helicopter for High Altitude
Why in the news
President Droupadi Murmu flew a sortie in the LCH Prachand at an Indian Air Force base. The flight was presented as a sign of growing home-grown defence strength.
Key facts
- LCH Prachand: the first dedicated combat helicopter to be designed and developed within India.
- Maker: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), under the Light Combat Helicopter programme.
- Category: multi-role light attack helicopter meant for offensive missions in battlefield and high-altitude settings.
- Planned deployment zones: Siachen Glacier and the Leh-Ladakh region.
| Mission type | What it means |
|---|---|
| Air-to-air combat | Engaging aerial targets |
| Air-to-ground strikes | Hitting targets on the surface |
| Anti-armour operations | Acting against armoured vehicles |
| Counter-insurgency | Operations against insurgent groups |
Background
The helicopter comes from the Light Combat Helicopter programme run by HAL. It was conceived as a platform able to fight in mountains, where air is thin and conditions are extreme.
Significance
- Shows progress in indigenous defence design and manufacture.
- Fills the need for a combat aircraft suited to mountainous terrain, where heavier helicopters struggle.
Exam angle
- Manufacturer: HAL.
- Type: light combat, multi-role attack helicopter.
- High-altitude areas named: Siachen Glacier and Leh-Ladakh.