Prachand LCH: News & Discussion: 03 October 2022

[Rakesh]

VIDEO: https://x.com/Platypuss_10/status/20008 ... 00106?s=20 ---> LCH Prachand x LCH Rudra in Kolkata! Rudra black paint job looks so fine!

[arvin]

I guess one has to crawl before you walk, get Mistral inducted while Doing the umpteen number of tests to get Vshorad inducted

Replying quite late to this.
Vshorad is planned to be used in air defence for Delhi as per recent reports.
So it must be good enough to replace stinger in NASAMS which was earlier planned for Delhi's air space defence.
Maybe tweak it a bit to replace Mistral in Prachand LCH.

[Aditya_V]

Yes it's juggling too many balls, here the we have no experience developing AAMs from helicopters, Mistral is fully developed, so we can see what are the issues firing AAM, develop Prachand then integrate VSHORAD, like R 73 and Derby on Tejas before integrating Astra series.

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/Neetivaan/status/2015388754815680944?s=20 ---> LCH Prachand at Jodhpur Air Force Station with Umaid Bhawan Palace in background.

[uddu]

Where is HAL's LCH Prachand & LUH?

Delivery of Prachand to begin from 2027. Self protection suite and missile capability expected to be added by then. LUH autopilot added. Work ongoing on auto rotation.

[uddu]

IIT-Madras and BEL Develop Indigenous 80mm Rocket with 12 km Range for Helicopter Deployment
https://www.thedefensenews.com/news-det ... eployment/

The rocket has been designed and engineered at the Sudha Murty Centre for Electronic Systems and Instrumentation at IIT-Madras. It is configured to deliver an effective engagement range of approximately 10 to 12 kilometres while remaining compatible with standard helicopter rocket launch pods. According to project officials, the design ensures that multiple-rocket salvo firing can be carried out without adversely affecting aircraft balance or flight stability.

rocket to achieve velocities in excess of Mach 2. The payload section follows a modular architecture, enabling the same rocket body to be fitted with different warhead options, including high-explosive fragmentation, anti-armor, and airburst variants. This approach allows the weapon to be tailored for a range of mission profiles without structural modification.

The rocket is optimized for integration with India’s indigenous rotary-wing platforms, including the HAL Dhruv and the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Prachand. BEL has been responsible for production scaling and electronic and systems integration, ensuring compatibility with existing avionics and weapon management systems used by the Indian Armed Forces.

Officials associated with the program stated that the project was initiated to address operational requirements for lightweight, extended-range armaments suited to contemporary asymmetric and high-mobility warfare scenarios.

[bala]

Gratifying to see IIT-M working on defence projects and making things happen. Artillery ramjet was done at IIT-M. The promise of IITs is that they work on advanced stuff for India's armed forces. This is what happens in US too. MIT and others are heavily into defence projects and DARPA is well known wherein actual money is spent sponsoring research in various domains/sub-domains. Hope IITs and NITs join in a comprehensive plan/manner so that the local talent pool can be harnessed for the betterment of defence products.

[Prem Kumar]

Since these are 80 mm rockets, I am not sure how they will fit existing rocket pods of Rudra/Prachand (which are today fitted with 70 mm Thales rockets)

[Aditya_V]

Can we have designed a new POD for these 80mm rockets, I am sure this would have been thought of

[uddu]

Can we have designed a new POD for these 80mm rockets, I am sure this would have been thought of

This may be the reason for stating that the same can be used with Prachand and Rudra.

[uddu]

Perfectly suits with Helina. 43 Kg and tandem warhead with 8 kg explosive
Indian Army Plans to Arm LCH Prachand Fleet With Air-Launched Loitering Munitions to Neutralise Modern Tanks
https://defence.in/threads/indian-army- ... nks.16866/
Sources indicate that the Indian Army Aviation Corps has initiated plans to equip its growing fleet of Prachand helicopters—currently projected at 114 units and rising—with specialized air-launched loitering munitions.

These weapons are being specifically designed to counter modern Main Battle Tanks (MBTs) fielded by adversaries, such as China’s Type 99A and Pakistan’s Al-Khalid-I.

The strategic objective is to bypass traditional frontal armour and the increasingly common "cope cages" (protective slat armour) by striking vertically through the vulnerable turret roof.

Strict Operational Requirements​
The Army has outlined precise and rigorous specifications for this new capability.

The munitions must be lightweight enough—under 45 kg—to allow each Prachand to carry a minimum of four units (two under each stub wing) without compromising its standard payload of 70mm rockets and Mistral air-to-air missiles.

Technologically, the systems must offer a loiter endurance of 25 to 40 minutes and feature advanced guidance systems, such as fibre-optic links or fully autonomous fire-and-forget modes.

The warhead requirement is equally specific: a tandem configuration combining a shaped-charge precursor with a 4–6 kg high-explosive fragmentation sleeve.

Three Distinct Technologies Under Consideration​
According to reports, three distinct design concepts are currently being evaluated:
Hybrid Quadcopter: This variant utilises electric ducted fans and fold-out wings for a silent loitering phase, transitioning to a solid-rocket booster for a high-speed terminal dive onto the target.
Miniaturised Cruise Missile: Based on the proven Nag anti-tank missile technology originally developed for the Rudra helicopter, this option features pop-out wings and a 5 kg tandem warhead.
Tube-Launched Parafoil: The most unconventional of the three, this system deploys a parafoil for loitering and engages a disposable turbojet engine only in the final five seconds of the attack. This acoustic stealth profile makes it nearly impossible for tank crews to detect the incoming threat until it is too late.

[VinodTK]

No word so far on the procurement of LCH.
If the product is so good, as claimed by HAL why are no orders being placed for it by IAF.

Wondering mind,wonders if:
- HAL glorified it and reality is something else.
OR
- IAF has its eyes set on some foreign attack choppers.
- have to restrain my thoughts on the role IAF and HAL; because of the potential backlash from some form members and the admins.

[uddu]

No word so far on the procurement of LCH.

It's done last year
Posted On: 28 MAR 2025 7:46PM by PIB Delhi
MoD inks two contracts worth Rs 62,700 crore with HAL for supply of 156 LCH, Prachand to the Armed Forces
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage ... ID=2116411
Out of 156 LCHs, 66 LCHs will be supplied to the Indian Air Force and 90 to the Indian Army

HAL To Deliver 156 Upgraded Indigenous Combat Helicopters 'Prachand' To Armed Forces By 2033
https://www.indiandefensenews.in/2025/0 ... enous.html
Approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security and inked in March 2025, the ₹62,700 crore project entrusts Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) with manufacturing and delivering 156 LCHs by 2033—90 for the Indian Army and 66 for the Indian Air Force.

Deliveries are slated to begin in 2027–28, with full induction over the following five years.

[VinodTK]

^^^ Thanks sir jee, my concern is based on seeing the current promises made for aircraft delivery schedule and ground reality. QC of the delivered choppers ( rotary plate issue for the existing choppers). Lives were lost due to the crash of one of the choppers.

Hopefully I am off base and all is good.

[uddu]

^^^ Thanks sir jee, my concern is based on seeing the current promises made for aircraft delivery schedule and ground reality. QC of the delivered choppers ( rotary plate issue for the existing choppers). Lives were lost due to the crash of one of the choppers.

Hopefully I am off base and all is good.

Yes Sir, there was issue that was identified and fixes now being done on the components that went into the Naval variants of the Dhruv helicopter. Already 15 Prachand of the LSP's are flying with IAF and IA from Thar to Ladakh.