New chopper can send message to enemy: Rajnath Singh

TIL Desk/National/Jodhpur/ Defence Minister Rajnath Singh takes a sortie in Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) ‘Prachand’ at Jodhpur airbase.

“It was a smooth and comfortable flight in the indigenously built Light Combat Helicopter (LCH). It can fly in any terrain, weather, and altitude; it has the capability to attack. Our motto is — make in India, make for the world,” Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said.

“There is no need to define ‘Prachand’, the LCH itself is capable of sending out a message to the enemy,” he added.

The IAF on Monday inducted the first fleet of LCH, which has been developed primarily for mountain warfare after a requirement for it was felt during the Kargil war in 1999. 

Developed by state-run aerospace major Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, the 5.8-tonne twin-engine gunship chopper is armed with air-to-air missiles, 20 mm turret guns, rocket systems and other weapons.