Light Combat Helicopters (LCHs)

Context

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is set to formally raise its first unit of indigenous Light Combat Helicopters (LCHs) in Jodhpur in the first week of October coinciding with Air Force Day on October 8.

Key-points

• Ten LCHs will be inducted in the first batch completing one unit.
• The IAF operates the older Russian Mi-25 and Mi-35 attack helicopters, of which one squadron has been phased out following the induction of 22 Boeing AH-64E Apache attack helicopters.
• The existing Mi-35 squadron is in the process of being sent for overhaul which will extend its life by many years.
• The Army had already raised its first LCH squadron on June 1 in Bengaluru. 
• The unit will move to the Eastern Command along the Line of Actual Control (LCH) on completion of the raising next year.
• The Army plans to acquire 95 LCHs of which seven units, each having 10 helicopters, are planned to be deployed for combat roles in the mountains.
• The LCH is the first dedicated attack helicopter of the Army, which otherwise operates 75 Rudra helicopters, the weaponised variant of the indigenous Advanced Light Helicopter. 

About Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)

• LCA is a light, multirole jet/turboprop military aircraft.
• The mission can either be in a light strike or attack missions, reconnaissance, interdiction roles or trainer roles.
• LCA Tejas-
• LCA Tejas is a single-engine multirole light combat aircraft.
• It replaced the aging Mig 21 fighter planes.
• It is the second supersonic fighter jet that was developed by HAL (the first one being HAL HF-24 Marut).
• Bodies involved: 
• Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA)
• The autonomous society of DRDO is the design agency
• Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) as the manufacturer
• It is the lightest and smallest multirole supersonic fighter aircraft in its class.
• It can attend the maximum speed of Mach 1.8. 
• It is designed to carry a range of air-to-air, air-to-surface, precision-guided and standoff weaponry.
• It is a single pilot aircraft that has a maximum takeoff weight of 13,300 kg. 
• It has a general range of 850 km and a combat range of 500 km.