Indian Air Force Orders 65 HAL Light Combat Helicopters for USD 1.4 billion

[Vasily Zaytsev]

Indian Air Force Orders 65 HAL Light Combat Helicopters for USD 1.4 billion | India Defence



Indian Air Force Orders 65 HAL Light Combat Helicopters for USD 1.4 billion




2011-03-21 The Indian Air Force recently announced that it will purchase 65 indigenously-designed attack helicopters in a deal worth $1.4 billion, according to a report in Defense News.

The Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), are produced by state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). According to the report the 5.5-ton aircraft can be loaded with a variety of advanced weapons, including air-to-air missiles, anti-radiation missiles, cluster bombs, and laser-guided munitions.

The LCH has also been designed to operate at high altitudes - as high as 18,000 feet - so that it may be utilized in operations in the country's north and in Kashmir, DN reported.

 

[Vasily Zaytsev]

This is only for IAF. We don't yet have numbers from the army.

Does any naval force operate combat helicopters anywhere?


I think army may order similar numbers.

 

[CaptainJackSparrow]

I hope 65 is just a starting figure. We need to induct these in the hundreds. Let's have the numbers' advantage.

 

[Nirvana]

This is only for IAF. We don't yet have numbers from the army.

Does any naval force operate combat helicopters anywhere?


I think army may order similar numbers.

65 fOR Air Force , 115 for Army - orders may exceed .

 

[Nirvana]

Hoping For Its Induction By late Next year.

 

[rockstarIN]

A fitting reply to those who are pessimistic to our own capabilities..

 

[GORKHALI]

Old news !already posted . The only thing different is the Source...

 

[GORKHALI]

Old news !already posted . The only thing different is the Source...

 

[Kinetic]

I hope 65 is just a starting figure. We need to induct these in the hundreds. Let's have the numbers' advantage.

65 is for IAF only and IA will order another 114, so total 179 confirmed as of now!!! More orders should be there.

~180 advanced attack choppers like LCH along with 22 Apache-64D can create havoc in any enemy land forces.


LCH IOC by Dec this year and FOC next year. So we should see LCH in IAF by next year end.

 

[Whiplash]

This works out to 21 mil per chopper. So our LCH is more expensive than the JF 17?

 

[kish]

IAF showing good faith in LCH ... that's good for HAL .

 

[ashok321]

This works out to 21 mil per chopper. So our LCH is more expensive than the JF 17?

But at least LCH does not have a made in China tag

 

[Nirvana]

A fitting reply to those who are pessimistic to our own capabilities..

Yea surely a strong reply to those who keep on barking that all Indian indigenous projects are Failure.

Now , have high hopes from projects like AMCA , AURA , LUH , MRTH.

 

[angeldemon_007]

65 is for IAF only and IA will order another 114, so total 179 confirmed as of now!!! More orders should be there.

I don't think IA will be ordering more. It already has quite a few order for attack version of dhruv also. I read somewhere that after this 114 LCH order, IA will be operating maximum number of attack choppers in Asia. I am not sure whether its true, but number is definitely huge.

But IA is seriously working on to increase its aviation fleet.
I think IA might purchase some heavy attack choppers like Apache and if IA makes that decision, that number could go upto 50-60.

But IA will definitely be making huge purchases in the transport helicopters sector because what they need most is to make their mobilization more swift. If IMRH is on time, i think IA alone will purchase 300-400 choppers very easily. This will also help in natural disasters also.

 

[Whiplash]

But at least LCH does not have a made in China tag

Err.. But that costs as much as an Apache! Manufacturing costs in India are supposed to be low!
We don't have any excuse. There are bulk orders placed in advance. So set up a god damn mechanized production line! How the frak can they cost so much? Especially when dhruvs cost 7 mil a piece!
I just hope this prics includes other things like cost of setting up plant and spares and shizz