HAL Starts Limited Series Production Of Light Combat Helicopters

India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is working on integrating the weapons suite on the indigenous light combat helicopter. 

HAL has started limited series production and intends to manufacture five LCH helicopters. 

"LCH is ready, we are integrating its weapons, we tried rockets and it was good, we need to try missiles ATGM - anti-tank guided missile, (these) are the ones which we are integrating and we just have to demonstrate that," HAL chairman Suvarna Raju was quoted as saying by Times of India Monday. 

HAL carried out hot and high-altitude trials of the third prototype of the indigenously developed attack chopper with the participation of pilots from the Indian Air Force and Army. 

"We have launched a limited series production, with a confidence and hope that we get definite orders on this. We have also inquiries on this platform from other countries, and so we will start making five helicopters this year," Raju said. 

“The union government had given basic sanction for 173 helicopters for the Indian Armed Forces. "It has to turn into a contract between the Services and HAL," Raju added.