First Indian Air Force LCH squadron

On 3 October 2022, the Bharatiya Vayu Sena (IAF, Indian Air Force) raised its first squadron of the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) at Jodhpur Air Force Station in the state of Rajasthan.

During the ceremony, the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh christened the new helicopter Prachand (meaning Fierce). The new unit operating the Prachand is 143 Helicopter Unit Dhanush. Three Prachands were noted at the ceremony, serials ZF4831, ZF4832 and ZF4833.

In March 2022, the Indian government sanctioned the manufacture of fifteen LCHs for USD 475 million, while approving the expenditure of USD 45 million more on a production line. The LCHs will be produced at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited's (HAL) new helicopter factory in Tumakuru (Karnataka). The new facilty will be manufacturing over 180 Light Utility Helicopters (LUH) and over 150 Light Combat Helicopters (LCH) in the near future. Late September 2022, HAL rolled out the first LCH that was manufactured at the new facility.

While the IAF is the LCH’s launch customer, the Indian Army will receive most of the helicopters. The air force has put forward a requirement for 65 LCHs and the Army for 114 LCHs. The LCH is a 5,5-ton class, combat helicopter designed and developed by HAL to meet the specific and unique requirements of the Indian armed forces and can operate at heights of 12,000 feet.

A few days before the ceremony at Jodhpur, the Indian Army inducted its first Prachand, serial IA6102, with 351 Army Aviation Squadron at Missamari Army Aviation Base (Assam).

Scramble Magazine assesses the Prachand will be the Mk.I model. It is not known if there is a difference between the Indian Army and Indian Air Force models. If you have more information please let us know at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Photo by Saurav Jain