29 September, New Delhi, India (ANI): The Indian Air Force is going to place orders for 156 more Prachand Light Combat Helicopters with HAL, which would be deployed at both the China and Pakistan fronts by the IAF and the Indian Army. This could be considered one of the biggest pushes for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Make in India’ in the defence sector.
In the last 15 months, the two agencies have already added 15 of these helicopters to their fleet after testing them in some of the world’s worst weather and terrain.
According to top military sources speaking to ANI, “The Indian Air Force has moved a proposal to the government for buying 156 more Prachand choppers as a joint acquisition case, which is likely to get approved soon.”
Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, the head of the Indian Air Force, recently made an announcement from abroad on the force’s intention to purchase around 100 more Light Combat Aircraft Mark 1A to promote indigenization.
In terms of value, the two projects add up to more than Rs 1.5 lakh crore.
The Indian Air Force would get 66 of the 156 helicopters, while the Indian Army would obtain the other 90.
The Prachand has undergone extensive test flights by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL), in accordance with the Indian Air Force’s demand that it be a weapon system entirely designed, produced, and built in India.
The assault helicopter was created to meet the needs of the Indian armed forces and can operate in both high-altitude and desert areas.
The Prachand attack helicopter is the only one in the world that can land and take off at a height of 5,000 metres (16,400 feet), making it perfect for use in high-altitude regions like Eastern Ladakh and the Siachen Glacier.
It can also damage the enemy’s air defence activities and fire a variety of air-to-ground and air-to-air missiles.
Additionally, it will be outfitted with more modern Dhruvastra air-to-ground missiles, which can destroy enemy-hardened bunkers in both high-altitude and other terrain.
A sizable number of these helicopters are also being purchased by the IAF in order to maintain the equipment prepared for export needs and sales to friendly foreign nations.
To satisfy all military needs, more than 300 of these helicopters are anticipated to be in service. Additionally, it is anticipated that these helicopters will quickly find purchasers on the export markets. (ANI)
