New Delhi [India]: On Friday, the Cabinet Committee on Security approved the largest defence procurement deal in India’s history, authorizing the purchase of 156 Light Combat Helicopters (LCH) worth over Rs 62,000 crore for the Indian Army and Air Force. This deal marks the biggest-ever order for Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), which will manufacture the helicopters at its plants in Bengaluru and Tumkur, Karnataka.
The 156 helicopters will be allocated between the Indian Army (90 helicopters) and the Indian Air Force (IAF), designed to strengthen operations along India’s borders with China and Pakistan. This deal is a significant move towards generating employment and expanding the aerospace ecosystem in the country, according to defence sources.
“Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) received the tender for 156 Light Combat Helicopters (LCH) in June last year. The IAF is the lead agency for this joint procurement,” defence sources told media.
Known as the Prachand, the LCH is the world’s only attack helicopter capable of operating at an altitude of 5,000 meters (16,400 feet), making it well-suited for deployment in high-altitude regions like the Siachen Glacier and Eastern Ladakh. The Prachand is equipped to fire both air-to-ground and air-to-air missiles and is capable of neutralizing enemy air defence systems.
The government’s focus on self-reliance in defence manufacturing is in line with the “Make in India” and “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiatives. This deal is part of India’s broader push for indigenous defence production, which has also seen the order of 83 Light Combat Aircraft and plans for the procurement of an additional 97 aircraft, with negotiations now concluded.
The Cabinet Committee on Security had also recently approved a deal for 307 ATAGS howitzers, a Rs 7,000 crore agreement, which is expected to be finalized this week. This deal involves two companies, Bharat Forge and the Tata group.