India to buy 156 Made in India LCH Prachanda choppers; biggest defence deal ever approved at CCS meeting

New Delhi| India has decided to buy 156 Made in India Prachanda helicopters. These are Light Combat Helicopters (LCHs). A report quoting a defense official said that this is the biggest defense deal ever, which has been approved by the Central Government. This decision was taken in the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) held today. Defense Ministry has signed contracts worth more than Rs 2.09 lakh crore this financial year, the defense official said.

90 for the Army, 66 helicopters for the Air Force
This is the largest order ever for Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. The helicopters will be manufactured at plants located in Bangalore and Tumkur in Karnataka. Of the 156 helicopters, 90 will be for the Army, while 66 will be for the Indian Air Force. These helicopters will be deployed on the borders of China and Pakistan.

Features of LCH Prachanda
LCH Prachanda can seat two people. It is 51.10 feet long, 15.5 feet high. It weighs 5800 kg with full military equipment. It can be fitted with 700 kg weapons. Whereas the maximum speed is 268 km per hour. Prachanda has a range of 550 km. It can fly continuously for 3 hours 10 minutes. It can also takeoff at 16,400 feet with a weight of. Apart from this, Prachanda also has a 20 mm cannon.

Indigenization of weapons will increase
This purchase will not only increase India’s self-reliance in the defense sector, but will also promote indigenization of weapons. Let us tell you that, till now HAL has made 15 Prachanda helicopters, which include ten LCH Prachanda for the Indian Air Force and five for the Army.

Prachanda can land easily even at a height of 5000 meters
Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) is also known as Prachanda. It is the only attack helicopter in the world that can land and take off at an altitude of 5,000 metres (16,400 ft). This specialty makes it ideal for operations in the high altitude areas of Siachen Glacier and Eastern Ladakh. Prachanda is also capable of firing air-to-ground and air-to-air missiles and can destroy enemy air defense operations. The government is emphasizing on self-reliance in defense manufacturing through Make in India under the Self-reliant India initiative.

Army signs agreement with Ashok Leyland for heavy recovery vehicles
To enhance the capability of the Army the Ministry of Defence has signed a contract worth Rs.168.09 crore with M/s Ashok Leyland Defence Systems Limited for 54 Heavy Recovery Vehicles (HRVs). According to the Defense Ministry, the newly procured HRVs will play an important role in the recovery of damaged, stranded and damaged military vehicles at high altitude and in desert environments. These towing vehicles have been designed with advanced lifting mechanism and high endurance to meet the requirements of the Army. This indigenously designed and developed special vehicle is part of the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative of the Government of India.