With increased tensions along the Himalayan frontier with China, the Indian armed forces need a whopping 1,000 helicopters of various types over the next decade as these aid in rapid deployment of troops, arms and equipment in times of crises….

With increased tensions along the Himalayan frontier with China, the Indian armed forces need a whopping 1,000 helicopters of various types over the next decade as these aid in rapid deployment of troops, arms and equipment in times of crises.

The signing of a contract between the Ministry of Defence and the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited on Friday to make 156 Light Combat Helicopters (LCHs) is a significant step for the domestic industry.

The LCH builds on the two decades of experience that the HAL has had with making 290 Advanced Light Helicopters (ALHs) with multiple variants.

The ‘Shakti engine’ that powers the ALH since 2009 is also fitted on the LCH. The engine allows the copter to carry out combat operations at 21,500 feet, which implies that it can hit at intruders, their camps and equipment in the Himalayas.

According to the Rs 62,700 crore contract, HAL – a public sector undertaking – is mandated to start deliveries of the LCH in 2028 and complete the supply of the entire lot by 2033. For combat operations, the IAF also has 22 of the Apache AH-64E attack helicopters from the US. The ageing Mi-25 and Mi-35 – sourced from Russia in the 1980s — are also in small numbers.

The LCH is only a part of the arsenal of armed forces – the Army, IAF, Navy and the Coast Guard.

• The Ministry of Defence has recently signed a contract for 156 Light Combat Helicopters with HAL.
• The three services also need 484 light-utility helicopters (LUH) to replace Cheetah/Chetak fleet — (259 for the Army, 125 for the IAF and 100 for the Navy)
• Besides, there is a requirement of 419 IMRH copters, planned to be deployed as the prime medium-weight category copter

Two other projects – the light utility helicopter (LUH) and the Indian multi-role helicopter (IMRH) — are at different stages of development. These two type of copters, along with the LCH and the ongoing production of the ALH, will set the benchmark for self-reliance in military aviation and open up the export market.

However, much will depend upon how quickly the HAL can produce these copters. The Ministry of Defence needs 100 copters of various types every year. Meanwhile, private sector manufacturers are waiting in the wings.

For its requirement of heavy cargo, the IAF has 15 Boeing CH-47F Chinook; for the medium-weight category, the IAF has about 250 Russian Mi-17 copters.

The armed forces plan to use IMRH as the prime medium-weight category copter and have set a target for conducting its first flight by 2027. Currently, they require 419 such copters.

Planned as a 13-ton multi-role helicopter, the IMRH will have two versions – one for the IAF and a second version called the DBMRH (Deck-Based Multi-Role Helicopter) for the Navy.

The HAL and French defence major Safran had, in August last year, signed an airframer contract, to commence joint design, development, manufacturing, supply and support of a new generation high power engine named ‘Aravalli’ for the IMRH. Its engines will be designed to operate in diverse and challenging environments. The IMRH will also have scope in the civil market for offshore operations and VVIP transport.

HAL-Safran joint venture has also produced more than 500 of the Shakti engines. The French firm had also allowed the transfer of technology of ‘forging and castings’ for the Shakti Engine in 2023.

Additionally, the three services need 484 light-utility helicopters (LUH) to replace Cheetah/Chetak fleet of helicopters. The Army requires 259, the IAF needs 125 and the Navy needs around 100 such helicopters. Cheetah/Chetak helicopters are based on the 1950s-designed Alouette Aérospatiale 315B Lama of France.

These light-utility helicopters are undergoing the process of last mile certifications. The HAL has made six of the LUH, of which trials have already been done.

Each weighs three tonnes and is powered by a single turbo shaft engine, Ardiden 1U, from the France-based Safran Helicopter Engine (SHE). The LUH is indigenously designed and developed by Rotary Wing Research and Design Centre of the HAL, which received the initial operational clearance for the Indian Army from the Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC) way back in February 2021.

It is equipped with a glass cockpit and the state-of-the-art health and usage monitoring system and is designed for various utility and armed roles.