Giving a boost to its operational capabilities and self-reliance, the IAF is all set to induct light combat helicopters(LCH) into service in the first week of October at its airbase in Jodhpur. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is expected to be present at the event. The induction will come days ahead of the annual Air Force Day on October 8.
The helicopters are manufactured by the public sector aerospace conglomerate Hindustan Aeronautics Limited(HAL). The LCH are capable of destroying enemy air defences, slow-moving aircraft, high-altitude bunkers as well as carrying out counter-insurgency operations, sources said here on Friday.
Cabinet Committee on Security(CCS ) headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi had in March given the nod for procurement of 15 helicopters for the IAF and the army from the HAL at a cost of ?3,887 crore.
Of the initial 15 limited series production helicopters approved, 10 are for the IAF and five for the army. The indigenously manufactured helicopter can land and take off from an altitude of 5,000 metre(15,000 feet) with weapons and fuel.
The helicopter has an indigenous content of 45 per cent and it will progressively increase to more than 55 per cent for the series production version. The HAL is hoping for follow-on orders as IAF and army are projected to have a combined requirement of 160 LCHs.
The light combat helicopter(LCH)is in the ‘positive indigenisation list’ that seeks to ban the import of different types of weapons, systems and ammunition over the next five to seven years to boost self-reliance in defence. In the last two years, the government has imposed a ban on the import of 310 defence items.