- Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) has received a Request for Proposal (RFP) from the Defence Ministry after the approval of Defence Acquisition Council for 156 indigenous Light Combat Helicopters (LCH), estimated to cost ₹45,000 crore.
- The RFP includes helicopters for the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force (IAF).
- HAL informed the stock exchanges in compliance with SEBI regulations.
- The Army is preparing to induct six AH-64E Apache attack helicopters, to be deployed in the desert sector.
LCH Specifications
- The twin-engine LCH, designed and developed by HAL, is a 5-8 tonne class dedicated combat helicopter.
- It was conceptualized after the 1999 Kargil conflict.
- It is the only attack helicopter in the world that can land and take off at an altitude of 5,000 meters (16,400 feet) with a significant load of weapons and fuel.
- The LCH has a combat radius of 500 km and a service ceiling of 21,000 feet, making it ideal for high altitude operations such as in the Siachen Glacier.
Dig Deeper: Read about composition of Defence Acquisition Council and its mandate.
