Attack Helicopters of IAF - LCH Prachand, AH-64E Apache : Updates & Discussions

As per the news , a new manufacturing hanger inaugurated this year

India defense minister inaugurates HAL's LCH production hangar - Vertical Magazine

It's an expansion of the earlier facility.

 
Both IAF and IA stalled the order citing full testing of the helicopters. The govt had cleared and HAL had already built the production facilities and even started production in 2017. The forces didn't want the IOC configuration which happened in 2017 and waited for HAL to complete flight testing to FOC standards.

So this is completely on the forces. It's unfortunate that the forces stalled the production of the 15 LRIPs. These could have gone on to improve the production standards of the aircraft and also some changes could have been incorporated based on pilot input. Now these will have to be carried out on the FOC models instead.

I suspect the IA and IAF deliberately stalled the LCH in order to remove any potential hurdles for the Apache. I find it interesting that LCH accomplished its enire gamut of FOC testing (Feb 28) a week after the govt cleared the army's Apache deal (Feb 20).

Totally incorrect
Hint: ALH Mk 4 saga
 
Totally incorrect
Hint: ALH Mk 4 saga

The thing is the LCH in its LRIP version was good enough to be produced in its IOC form. The forces instead got hung up on the weapons systems due to the delay with Rudra's weaponisation, which had a whole lot of politics playing spoilsport.

Cannon, rocket and ATAM were already decided, full French package, back in Feb 2019, for both Rudra and LCH. And at the same time, the army had already tested both the Helina (2019) and SANT (2018) successfully. So the order should have gone through for the IOC model in 2019.

It's a case of the IA over-purchasing the Rudra and under-purchasing the LCH. And considering the radical design changes in the LCH, the IA should have given importance to the development of the LCH airframe during this time. Even buying just 2 of 10 LRIPs would have gone a long way. Even if those 2 had design deficiencies, they could still have been used for training, with improvements made in the successive models.
 
The thing is the LCH in its LRIP version was good enough to be produced in its IOC form. The forces instead got hung up on the weapons systems due to the delay with Rudra's weaponisation, which had a whole lot of politics playing spoilsport.

Cannon, rocket and ATAM were already decided, full French package, back in Feb 2019, for both Rudra and LCH. And at the same time, the army had already tested both the Helina (2019) and SANT (2018) successfully. So the order should have gone through for the IOC model in 2019.

It's a case of the IA over-purchasing the Rudra and under-purchasing the LCH. And considering the radical design changes in the LCH, the IA should have given importance to the development of the LCH airframe during this time. Even buying just 2 of 10 LRIPs would have gone a long way. Even if those 2 had design deficiencies, they could still have been used for training, with improvements made in the successive models.

IA had asked for immediate 1 squadron worth of platforms.

"No money"
 
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15 Hal LCH deal by year end….?
2 days ago
0 104 1 minute read
lch-1111-780x470.jpg
Image Credit: Atmavir Singh

In 2017, Then Indian army chief General Bipin Rawat had said Indigenous Attack/combat helicopters HAL Rudra and HAL Light Combat Helicopter have major shortcomings, that is in their current configuration both do not have suitable anti-tank guided missile (ATGM), which is the main weapon of any Attack/Combat helicopters around the world. Fast forward to 2020 and nothing much has changed since then as HAL Rudra MkIV and LCH Helicopters continue to be armed only with French Nexter 20mm turret gun and Belgian 70 mm rockets and waits for ATGM to be used as effective anti-armor, anti-bunker and anti-fortification role for the Strike Corps.
DRDO developed Helina and SANT anti-tank guided missile system was supposed to provide lethal aerial firepower against the armored thrust of the rivals but DRDO has not been able to clear this trial phase of this missiles and enter production. DRDO officials have claimed both the missiles are ready for production and have cleared all trials but there seem to be some bottleneck issues with the production of the missile which is yet to resolve.
Army already has 60 HAL Rudra MkIV and the chorus has been growing to induct HAL developed LCH also and it seems, Army will clear that proposal to induct 10 LCH and 5 for Air force soon, but both Helicopters will continue to come without any decent ATGM integrated into them.
Army has been proposing the integration of American AGM-114 Hellfire air-to-surface missile (ASM) and buys interim stock for both HAL Rudra and LCH fleet but it has some opposition from DRDO which claims its Army which is delaying ordering locally developed Helina and SANT anti-tank guided missile system over imported ATGM.
Army also has been offered helo-launched Spike ER and the MBDA PARS L3 anti-tank guided missile from other foreign vendors but turf war is yet to be resolved between Army and DRDO due to which one of the main weapon systems for Gunship Helicopters are still missing but sources has confirmed that talks are underway to keep both Army and DRDO happy and a deal to arm this gunships with ATGM will be cleared by end of this year.
15 Hal LCH deal by year end….?
2 days ago
0 104 1 minute read
lch-1111-780x470.jpg
Image Credit: Atmavir Singh

In 2017, Then Indian army chief General Bipin Rawat had said Indigenous Attack/combat helicopters HAL Rudra and HAL Light Combat Helicopter have major shortcomings, that is in their current configuration both do not have suitable anti-tank guided missile (ATGM), which is the main weapon of any Attack/Combat helicopters around the world. Fast forward to 2020 and nothing much has changed since then as HAL Rudra MkIV and LCH Helicopters continue to be armed only with French Nexter 20mm turret gun and Belgian 70 mm rockets and waits for ATGM to be used as effective anti-armor, anti-bunker and anti-fortification role for the Strike Corps.
DRDO developed Helina and SANT anti-tank guided missile system was supposed to provide lethal aerial firepower against the armored thrust of the rivals but DRDO has not been able to clear this trial phase of this missiles and enter production. DRDO officials have claimed both the missiles are ready for production and have cleared all trials but there seem to be some bottleneck issues with the production of the missile which is yet to resolve.
Army already has 60 HAL Rudra MkIV and the chorus has been growing to induct HAL developed LCH also and it seems, Army will clear that proposal to induct 10 LCH and 5 for Air force soon, but both Helicopters will continue to come without any decent ATGM integrated into them.
Army has been proposing the integration of American AGM-114 Hellfire air-to-surface missile (ASM) and buys interim stock for both HAL Rudra and LCH fleet but it has some opposition from DRDO which claims its Army which is delaying ordering locally developed Helina and SANT anti-tank guided missile system over imported ATGM.
Army also has been offered helo-launched Spike ER and the MBDA PARS L3 anti-tank guided missile from other foreign vendors but turf war is yet to be resolved between Army and DRDO due to which one of the main weapon systems for Gunship Helicopters are still missing but sources has confirmed that talks are underway to keep both Army and DRDO happy and a deal to arm this gunships with ATGM will be cleared by end of this year.
DRDO 's ego is killing one of the finest high altitude platform.
 
15 Hal LCH deal by year end….?
2 days ago
0 104 1 minute read
lch-1111-780x470.jpg
Image Credit: Atmavir Singh

In 2017, Then Indian army chief General Bipin Rawat had said Indigenous Attack/combat helicopters HAL Rudra and HAL Light Combat Helicopter have major shortcomings, that is in their current configuration both do not have suitable anti-tank guided missile (ATGM), which is the main weapon of any Attack/Combat helicopters around the world. Fast forward to 2020 and nothing much has changed since then as HAL Rudra MkIV and LCH Helicopters continue to be armed only with French Nexter 20mm turret gun and Belgian 70 mm rockets and waits for ATGM to be used as effective anti-armor, anti-bunker and anti-fortification role for the Strike Corps.
DRDO developed Helina and SANT anti-tank guided missile system was supposed to provide lethal aerial firepower against the armored thrust of the rivals but DRDO has not been able to clear this trial phase of this missiles and enter production. DRDO officials have claimed both the missiles are ready for production and have cleared all trials but there seem to be some bottleneck issues with the production of the missile which is yet to resolve.
Army already has 60 HAL Rudra MkIV and the chorus has been growing to induct HAL developed LCH also and it seems, Army will clear that proposal to induct 10 LCH and 5 for Air force soon, but both Helicopters will continue to come without any decent ATGM integrated into them.
Army has been proposing the integration of American AGM-114 Hellfire air-to-surface missile (ASM) and buys interim stock for both HAL Rudra and LCH fleet but it has some opposition from DRDO which claims its Army which is delaying ordering locally developed Helina and SANT anti-tank guided missile system over imported ATGM.
Army also has been offered helo-launched Spike ER and the MBDA PARS L3 anti-tank guided missile from other foreign vendors but turf war is yet to be resolved between Army and DRDO due to which one of the main weapon systems for Gunship Helicopters are still missing but sources has confirmed that talks are underway to keep both Army and DRDO happy and a deal to arm this gunships with ATGM will be cleared by end of this year.

DRDO 's ego is killing one of the finest high altitude platform.
Same as many other systems, like AIP for Scorpene, ATGM for infantry and what not.

It's time we need a new formula.

Strict deadlines for certification should be given. If it's not happening till then, then DRDO should come up and ask for a new deadline, and then the Armed Forces should be able to import their requirements which will be needed during the delay.
 
Same as many other systems, like AIP for Scorpene, ATGM for infantry and what not.

It's time we need a new formula.

Strict deadlines for certification should be given. If it's not happening till then, then DRDO should come up and ask for a new deadline, and then the Armed Forces should be able to import their requirements which will be needed during the delay.
I don't know what prevent DRDO to integrate hellfire with lch, its a potent missile and IA & IAF is using that also. That act will give lch an easy access to global market too. Useless fellows.
 
I don't know what prevent DRDO to integrate hellfire with lch, its a potent missile and IA & IAF is using that also. That act will give lch an easy access to global market too. Useless fellows.
For a start 50+ Rudras are already delivered if I am not wrong. Forget hellfire or pars3. That would have to be procured right. But we already had 9m114 and 9m120 ATGMs to be used from Mi35 and Mi17 fleet. Atleast they could have Integrated those. We were already using those in decent numbers.

Now we have 50+ gunships with just canons.

And then everyone questions Army why not ordering LCH?
 
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For a start 50+ Rudras are already delivered if I am not wrong. Forget hellfire or pars3. That would have to be procured right. But we already had 9m114 and 9m120 ATGMs to be used from Mi35 and Mi17 fleet. Atleast they could have Integrated those. We were already using those in decent numbers.

Now we have 50+ gunships with just canons.

And then everyone questions Army why not ordering LCH?
Was reading a 2019 Livefist article. Till date HAL has been ordering the ATAM launchers only for Rudra and LCH. But to Mistral missile to fire from it. The finance ministry thinks it's too costly.