HAL's Light Utility Helicopter Project Close to Production Clearance

Indian HAL’s Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) project moved closer to production clearance with the flight of the third prototype yesterday, which is built to the standard of deliverable configuration.

HAL flew the third prototype (PT3) for the first time on December 14, 2018. This prototype would augment development flight testing in conjunction with other two Prototypes towards Certification, HAL said in a statement Monday.

Based on the feedback from flight testing of PT1 and PT2, PT3 is built to the standard of deliverable configuration.

“LUH is now close to production clearance and HAL is confident of meeting customer requirements of the Armed Forces,” R Madhavan, CMD-HAL said.

“The successful completion of first flight of third prototype of LUH is a quantum leap and will soon replace the ageing fleet of Cheetah/Chetak,” said Arup Chatterjee, Director (Engg., R&D) HAL.

The LUH is a 3-ton class new generation single engine helicopter indigenously designed and developed by Rotary Wing Research and Design Center (RWR&DC) of HAL. First flight of LUH PT-1 was carried on September 6, 2016 and the second Prototype flew on May 22, 2017.  High altitude cold weather trials of LUH is planned in January 2019.