Made-in-India Light Combat Helicopters to add muscle to IAF

The HAL-built Light Combat Helicopters to boost IAF’s combat prowess

In yet another successful instance of India’s implementation of the Aatmanirbhar Barat initiative, the first indigenous made in India light combat helicopters are being inducted into the Indian Air Force (IAF). Seen as providing the Indian Air Force with immense combat powers the induction of these choppers are to take place in Jodhpur, in Rajasthan.

The induction of the indigenously built light combat helicopters are taking place in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Expected to add muscle to IAF’s combat capabilities, the induction of these helicopters is expected to be a major event in India’s military arena.

Light Combat Helicopters have been indigenously-built

The new light combat helicopters come with all-weather combat capability, high altitude performance, agility, manoeuvrability, and extended range and more, said a report. Built at the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) facility, the light combat helicopters will sport armour protection, night attack capability and crash-worthy landing gear that would add better survivability. With a total weight of 5.8 tonnes, the twin-engine helicopters were put to various weapons firing tests before being approved for induction.

The HAL built helicopters were given the nod to be inducted into the Indian Air Force during March this year. This followed a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) had met under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, where the procurement of 15 Light Combat Helicopter Limited Series Production was approved at a cost of Rs. 3,887 crore. This apart, infrastructure sanctions worth Rs. 377 crore was also approved then.

Boost to Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative

The induction of the light combat helicopters which have been fully made in India comes as a major boost the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative. The initiative, now progressing on a steady mode, has been providing the nation with means to increase its capability to indigenously design, develop and manufacture advanced cutting edge technologies and systems in the defence sector.

The Indian Air Force has also provided a sneak peek into new indigenously built light combat helicopters in a tweet.