Context: 

Recently, the Defence Ministry signed a contract with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to buy 156 indigenous Light Combat Helicopters (LCH) Prachand.  

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India approved its largest-ever procurement of attack helicopters, with a deal of Rs 62,000 crore for 156 LCHs from HAL. 

Of these, 90 will be deployed with the Indian Army, while 66 will be given to the IAF.

The supply of these helicopters shall commence from the third year and will be spread over the next five years. 

It is planned to achieve an overall indigenous content of over 65% during the execution of this order.

• This will involve over 250 domestic companies, mostly MSMEs, and will generate over 8,500 direct & indirect jobs.

Along with light combat helicopters (LCH) Prachand, the Ministry of Defence also signed a contract for training and associated equipment, excluding taxes.

The production will take place at HAL’s Bengaluru and Tumkur plants, boosting employment and India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem.

Features of Light Combat Helicopters (LCH) Prachand

This is India’s first indigenously designed and developed combat helicopter, designed to operate for high-altitude combat. 

It is the world's only attack helicopter that can land and take off at an altitude of 5,000 meters (16,400 feet), which makes it ideal to operate in the high-altitude regions of the Siachen glacier and eastern Ladakh. 

It is one of only three attack helicopters capable of operating in high-altitude warfare. The Chinese Z-10 and Turkish T-129 ATAK claim similar capabilities, but both suffer from underpowered engines for extreme altitudes. 

It is based on HAL’s Dhruv helicopter but is optimised for attack missions. It has a narrow fuselage (central tube-shaped part of an airplane), stealth profiling, and armour protection, ensuring survivability in combat.

It features a glass cockpit with integrated avionics, a Helmet Mounted Display System (HMDS) for target acquisition, and a Forward-Looking Infrared (FLIR) system. 

It also boasts a Radar Warning Receiver, Missile Approach Warning System, and Laser Warning System for enhanced survivability in hostile environments.

Deigned for multi-role combat, Prachand carries an array of weapons:

• 20mm nose-mounted cannon integrated with the HMDS.
• 70mm rocket system for engaging enemy infantry and light armoured vehicles.
• Helina (Dhruvastra) anti-tank guided missiles for armoured warfare.
• Mistral 2 air-to-air missiles for aerial combat.

Prachand is powered by twin HAL-Turbomeca Shakti 1H1 turboshaft engines, co-developed by HAL and France’s Safran.

Surge in Indigenous Defence Production

• The value of defence production has surged to a record high of ₹1,27,434 crore in 2023-24, marking an impressive 174% increase from ₹46,429 crore in 2014-15.
• 65% of defence equipment is now manufactured domestically, a significant shift from the earlier 65-70% import dependency.
• India targets ₹3 lakh crore in defence production by 2029, reinforcing its position as a global defence manufacturing hub.

Need of such procurement

The induction of 156 LCHs will significantly enhance India’s military capability, particularly in contested border regions. 

With tensions along the China and Pakistan borders, it provides the Army and IAF with a powerful weapon to secure high-altitude positions and counter enemy threats.

The recent procurement aligns with India’s broader push for self-reliance in defence. 

• The government has already placed large orders for indigenous platforms, including 83 Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas
• Also, the clearance for 307 Advanced Towed Artillery Gun Systems (ATAGS) shows India’s commitment towards the indigenisation of defence ecosystem.