The Cabinet Committee on Security approved the biggest-ever defence deal on Friday to buy 156 light combat helicopters (LCHs) worth over Rs 62,700 crore for the Indian Army and Air Force from state-run Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL).
Out of 156 LCHs, 66 LCHs will be supplied to the Indian Air Force and 90 to the Indian Army, the government said in a statement. The choppers, known as Prachand, will be built at HAL plants in Bengaluru and Tumkur in Karnataka.
The supply of these helicopters shall commence from the third year and will be spread over the next five years. The contracts will enhance the combat capability of the armed forces at high altitudes.
LCH is India’s first indigenously designed and developed combat helicopter, having a capability of operating at an altitude of over 5,000 meters. This helicopter has a large number of components designed and manufactured in India, and it is planned to achieve an overall indigenous content of 65% and above during the execution of this procurement.
This will involve over 250 domestic companies, mostly MSMEs and will generate over 8,500 direct & indirect jobs, the government said.
The total number of contracts signed by the defence ministry during 2024-25 reached 193 with overall contract value exceeding Rs 2.09 lakh crore, which is the highest ever and nearly double the previous highest figure. Out of these, the contracts to domestic industry are 177 (92%) with a contract value of Rs 1.69 lakh crore (81%).