In March 2025, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed two contracts with Bengaluru (Karnataka)-based Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), ‘Maharatna’ Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under MoD, for supply of 156 indigenous Light Combat Helicopters (LCH), Prachand, as well as training an associated equipment, for a total cost of Rs 62,700 crore, excluding taxes.
- The contracts were signed in the presence of Rajesh Kumar Singh, Secretary, MoD and these contracts aimed to improve the combat capability of Armed Forces at high altitudes.
Key Points:
i.As per MoD, the 1st contract is for supply of 66 LCHs to the Indian Air Force (IAF) and 2nd is for supply of 90 LCHs to the Indian Army (IA).
- The supply of these LCHs will start from the 3rd year (2027-28) and will be spread over the next 5 years.
ii.The 156 LCHs will be manufactured at HAL helicopter factories based in Bengaluru and Tumkur in Karnataka, with 30 LCHs to be built annually.
iii.The key components of LCH were designed and manufactured in India, and now, Government of India (GoI) planned to increase the overall indigenous content of LCH from existing 45% to over 65% during the execution of this order.
- This will involve over 250 local companies, mostly Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and is expected to generate more than 8,500 direct and indirect jobs.
iv.Apart from these two contracts, MoD has also signed a contract with (United States of America, USA)-based Metrea Management for ‘wet leasing’ of one Flight Refuelling Aircraft (FRA) for providing mid-air refueling training to pilots of IAF and Indian Navy (IN).
- As per the contract, Metrea will provide FRA for KC-135 aircraft within 6 months which will be the 1st FRA to wet leased by IAF.
v.With the signing of these 3 contracts, the total number of contracts signed by MoD during the financial year 2024-25 (FY25) has now reached 193, with overall contract value exceeding Rs 2,09,050 core. This is the highest ever figure, and nearly twice the last such number.
- Of these total contracts, domestic industry secured 177 contracts (92%), with a total value of almost Rs 1.7 lakh crore (81%).
About Light Combat Helicopter (LCH):
i.It is indigenously designed and developed by HAL in collaboration with French engine-maker Safran.
- Various key aviation technologies such as: glass cockpit and composite airframe structure have been indigenized.
ii.Prachanda is the only attack helicopter in the world that can fly and take off at an altitude of 5, 000 metres (16,400 ft.) with considerable weapons and fuel load which makes it suitable to operate in the high-altitude areas of the Siachen glacier and Eastern Ladakh.
iii.In 2022, 15 such limited LCHs, of which 10 were inducted in IAF and remaining 5 in IA, at a cost of Rs 4,264 crore.
Key Features:
i.It is a 5.8 tonne twin-engine LCH equipped with two French-origin Shakti engines manufactured by HAL.
- It has countermeasure dispensing system that protects it from detection of enemy radars.
ii.It is equipped with 20 millimeter (mm)turret guns, 70mm rocket systems and air-to-air missiles.
iii.It is equipped with requisite agility, manoeuvrability, extended range, high altitude performance and all-weather combat capability.
iv.It has also stealth features, armoured-protection systems, night attack capability and crash-worthy landing gear for better survivability.
v.It can perform various functions such as: Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR), Destruction of Enemy Air Defence (DEAD), and Counter-Insurgency (CI) operations, high-altitude bunker-busting operations in the jungles, and urban environments as well as for supporting ground forces.
- Also, LCH can be used against slow-moving aircraft and Remotely Piloted Aircrafts (RPAs) of adversaries.
About Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL):
Charge of Chairman and Managing Director (CMD)- Dr. D.K. Sunil
Headquarters- Bengaluru, Karnataka
Established in- 1940
Ministry of Defence (MoD):
Union Minister- Rajnath Singh(Constituency- Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, UP)
Minister of State (MoS)– Sanjay Seth(Constituency- Ranchi, Jharkhand)
