HAL Prachand
The HAL Prachand (IPA: prəcəɳɖ, lit. "Giant" or "Intense") is an Indian multi-role light attack helicopter designed and manufactured by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) under Project LCH. It has been ordered by the Indian Air Force and the Indian Army. Its flight ceiling is the highest among all attack helicopters.
| Prachand | |
|---|---|
| A HAL Prachand of No. 143 Helicopter Unit, IAF. | |
| Role | Attack helicopter |
| National origin | India |
| Manufacturer | Hindustan Aeronautics Limited |
| Design group | Rotary Wing Research and Design Centre |
| First flight | 29 March 2010 |
| Introduction | 3 October 2022 |
| Status | Limited series production In deployment |
| Primary users | Indian Army Indian Air Force |
| Produced | 2017 – present |
| Number built | 19 (4 TD, 15 LSP) |
| Developed from | HAL Dhruv |
The true impetus for the development of the LCH Prachand came in the form of the Kargil War, a conflict fought between India and neighbouring Pakistan in 1999, which revealed the Indian armed forces lacked a suitable armed rotorcraft capable of operating unrestricted in the high-altitude theatre. Accordingly, both HAL and the Indian armed forces commenced exploratory efforts towards the conceptualisation of a combat helicopter to perform in this role. During 2006, the company announced that it had launched a development programme to produce such a rotorcraft, referred to simply as the LCH or Light Combat Helicopter. Originally, the LCH was anticipated to attain initial operating capability (IOC) by December 2010, however development of the type was protracted and subject to several delays, some of which having been attributed to suppliers.
The LCH Prachand drew extensively on an earlier indigenous helicopter developed and manufactured by HAL, the HAL Dhruv; using this rotorcraft as a starting point has been attributed as significantly reducing the cost of the programme. On 29 March 2010, the first LCH prototype performed its maiden flight. An extensive test programme, involving a total of four prototypes, was conducted. During the course of these tests, the LCH gained the distinction of being the first attack helicopter to land in Siachen, having repeatedly landed at several high altitude helipads, some of which being as high as 13,600 to 15,800 feet (4,100 to 4,800 meters). During mid-2016, the LCH was recognised as having completed its performance trials, paving way for the certification of its basic configuration.
On 26 August 2017, limited series production of the Prachand was formally inaugurated. On 19 November 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally handed over the LCH to IAF Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari, clearing way for full scale induction. On 3 October 2022, the LCH was formally inducted into the IAF and was officially named "Prachand". By November, Indian army had begun to move its LCH helicopters on LAC near the Chinese border.