Light Combat Helicopter undergoing tests, field trials in Pokhran

The Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), India’s multirole combat helicopter, is undergoing a battery of tests and field trials in Pokharan field range in Jaisalmer district. The helicopter has a distinction of being the first attack helicopter to land in Siachen amongst various other high altitude helipads.

Though the helicopter was first thought of after Kargil war, the current tests are more focussed on the performance of LCH in the foggy winters of the Thar desert, where India and Pakistan have already fought two wars. Highly placed sources reveal that the helicopter would undergo firing tests as well as operational capability test in extreme weather conditions. These tests are also focused on testing of on-board systems of the helicopter, the analysis of which will aid in effective strategy planning in event of war.

In 2017, the Indian Army Air Corps placed combined orders for 114 LCH  with the Indian Air Force placing 65 LCH in total. The current row of tests is in line with the Initial Operating Capability (IOC) which was set to be conducted during 2018.