12 Indigenous light utility helicopters ordered delivery in 2022
Indian Forces are already having the Dhruv Helicopter in service which is a Utility helicopter or Light Support helicopter. Now India is going ahead with an indigenous light utility helicopter (LUH) after it proved it worth during high altitude operations. The defence ministry has given the go ahead for placing an order for 12 of the choppers, with Hindustan Aeronautics expected to deliver the first by August next year.
The helicopter operated even at Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO) airstrip on the China border.
It has demonstrated its capability of operating in all kinds of environments, with a focus on high altitude missions that are essential for maintaining troops on the Pakistan and China border.
HAL Chairman R Madhavan stated that the letter of acceptance for 12 helicopters – six each for the army and air force – has been received and work has started to produce the aircraft. “The LoA has been received and we plan to deliver the first helicopter by next year. The production facility at Tumkur is ready and we will manufacture the choppers there,” he said.
While 12 helicopters are to be ordered in the first lot, the expected requirement of the LUH within the services is pegged at 185. In addition, India and Russia have also been negotiating a deal for the Kamov Ka 226 helicopters for the army and air force to fulfil the large needs of such type of aircraft.
The LUH will progressively replace the Chetak and Cheetah helicopters that operate at impossible heights on the border, including the Siachen glacier. Given its new design, the LUH can carry more than eight times the meaningful payload to the highest helipads in the world, as compared to the Cheetahs.
The indigenous chopper has gone through rigorous trials and tests by the services, including at forward helipads on the border. These include test missions from Leh to both the China and Pakistan borders. It has also demonstrated a flawless flight from Bangalore to Leh, a distance of over 3000 km, in three days without any servicing issues.
The HAL Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) is a 3-tonne class highly agile new generation light helicopter. According to HAL, it possesses a cruise speed of 235 km/h, maximum speed of 260 km/h, service ceiling of up to 6.5 km, a range of 350 km, a maximum take-off weight of 3.12 tonne and an empty weight of 1.91 tonne. The LUH will be capable of accommodating a maximum of two pilots and six passengers, all of which shall be seated on crash-worthy seats; externally, it is capable of carrying cargoes of up to 1 ton under-slung.
LUH with glass cockpit will be able to undertake various missions, including casualty evacuation , troop and cargo transport , search & Rescue , recce& surveillance misdions and even SHBOs. It is powered by a single 750 KW rated Shakti-1U turboshaft engine.
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Capacity: 6 passengers
- Length: 11.49 m (37 ft 8.25 in)
- Height: 3.38 m (11 ft 1 in) up to the top of the tailfin
- Empty weight: 1,910 kg (4,211 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 3,120 kg (6,878 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × HAL/Turbomeca Shakti-1U turboshaft engine, 798 kW (1,070 shp) derated
- Main rotor diameter: 11.6 m (38 ft 0.75 in)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 250 km/h (155 mph, 135 kn)
- Cruise speed: 235 km/h (146 mph, 127 kn)
- Never exceed speed: 259 km/h (161 mph, 140 kn)
- Range: 350 km (217 mi, 189 nmi) with 500 kg payload
- Service ceiling: 6,500 m (21,300 ft)
- Rate of climb: 6.66 m/s (1,426 ft/min)
