HAL Rudra
Recently a Nigerian defence source created a sensation claiming procurement of Light Combat Helicopters by the Nigerian Government from India. Though there was no confirmation of this rumour but for obvious reasons it created a lot of buzz on social media particularly amongst Indians. The Light Combat Helicopter is designed and developed indigenously by India’s state owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. If the news is confirmed, obviously it would be the biggest success story of India’s attempt to cement its position as a major weapon exporting nation. Though for several years India has been selling a lot of cutting edge platforms to a large number of nations, Philippines will perhaps be the first to purchase the Brahmos- world’s fastest supersonic cruise missile. LCH being fully indigenous would not be concerned with the Russian factor as in case of BrahMos. HAL instead on 5 July gave the following official statement: “Based on the contract between HAL and Nigerian Army for imparting phase-I flying training, six Nigerian Army Aviation officers were formally inducted into HAL’s Rotary Wing Academy today”.
HAL Light Combat Helicopter or LCH
What should be noted here is that the pilots in question are from their Army Aviation which is the latest establishment in the Nigerian Armed Forces. Till now it was the air force in charge of sensitive and complex heliborne operations; they are procuring the Mi-35 attack helicopter as well as the AW- 109 utility platforms. According to latest reports, their Army Aviation is interested into a new platform separately for counter terrorism operations. Recently they have gone in full swing against their main concern, Boko Haram, against whom the nation has been fighting a bloody war for a long time. LCH is derived from the Advanced Light Helicopter Dhruv which is a utility platform which too is designed and developed indigenously. It was developed along with Rudra, another attack platform finding the same origin as LCH. Whereas Rudra with limited troop transporting capability can be deployed for special force operations (like the Mi-35 fleet in service with Indian Air Force), LCH is much like AH-64E but with much lighter payload. Boeing’s AH-64E Apache is the latest acquisition by the Indian Air Force to replace their aging Mi-35E Hind platforms. Twenty two have been ordered by the Indian Air Force while the Indian Army has contracted for six. Without any doubt, the Apache is unique but the real game changer will be the indigenous platforms which can be deployed for any desired role and in larger numbers. India, braving multifront threats must have platforms capable of performing multi-domain operations whenever required. Keeping this in mind, the LCH and Rudra have been developed to meet the requirements fully. From the scorching summer in deserts to blistering cold at high altitudes of the Himalayas, these platforms can be deployed anywhere thus gaining huge advantage over potential adversaries lacking such. LCH can check the Chinese movement at Himalayan region and thwart any misadventure. Both Rudra and LCH can be equipped with a wide range of weapons according to need of their customers, anti-tank guided missiles to destroy enemy armoured columns as well as air to air missiles to deny air space. While AH-64E can do all of these in much larger scales, is too costly to be procured in great numbers. Currently, as mentioned earlier, there are only 28 orders for these platforms from the Indian Armed Forces. But obviously, this is a number too small to support India’s ever growing requirements. According to reports, more than 90 Rudra helicopters are being procured by the IAF and Indian Army where as LCH orders might be around 180 by the two services together. This will make a fleet of 300 various attack helicopters, one of the largest in the world. China has already inducted more than 300 Z-10 and Z-19 attack platforms. On the other hand Pakistan is also looking to replace their ageing AH-1F’s with 12 AH- 1Z’s and 30 A-129B’s. But sanctions by the US has forced Pakistan to hold its plans. It is obvious they will either go for Chinese origin Z-10ME or Turkish T-129B’s but with non-American origin engines. To establish itself as a reliable partner in the weapon export programmes, India must show faith in its weapon systems as well. Turkey recently unveiled a heavier attack helicopter programme known as the T-929 ATAK 2. It will first be powered by Ukrainian engines but later Turkey will develop an indigenous one. India can’t rule out the possibility of this platform as a future threat. The much ambitious indigenous Indian Multi-role Helicopter programme envisages various variants including an armed one as well. However, it is yet unknown if there will be a heavier version of the LCH which will complement the AH-64E fleet. But it is necessary and there should be no doubt about that.
HAL LCH
Sankalan Chattopadhyay (Twitter @Vinoddx9) (all photos: Vayu)