State-run military plane maker Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) plans to build three prototypes of its indigenous light combat helicopter (LCH) and aims to achieve initial operational clearance in two years, a top official of the firm has said.
The helicopter gunship would need to register 500 hours of flight for the initial clearance, Ashok Nayak, CMD, HAL, told reporters on the sidelines of the inaugural flight of the first prototype on Sunday. The LCH was dedicated to the nation after the flight.
Nayak said the Indian Air Force had a requirement for 65 such helicopters and the Indian Army too has shown interest in the product.
The design and development phase of the project cost Rs 376 crore, Nayak said.
The LCH is the second indigneous helicopter built by HAL, whose Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) has been inducted into the armed forces and has been exported to countries such as Ecuador and Mauritius. The plane maker, which reported sales of Rs 11,415 crore last fiscal, has an order book position of Rs80,000 crore.
Besides the LCH, it is also working on a developing a multi-role transport aircraft and Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) and upgrades of Indian Air Force aircraft.
