Aircraft maker Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has forged partnerships with Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) and Adani Defence Systems and Technologies Limited to produce fuselages for the indigenous Prachand light combat helicopter (LCH), a boost for India’s helicopter production ecosystem, HAL said on Friday.
HAL is executing orders worth ₹62,700 crore for 156 Prachand helicopters—90 for the army and 66 for the Indian Air Force. Under the new agreements, BEML and Adani will produce 48 and 42 fuselages, respectively; HAL will manufacture the rest.
HAL chief Ravi K said this marks a significant step in strengthening India’s aerospace ecosystem. “For the first time, the private industry is being integrated into the production of helicopter fuselage structures. This partnership will expand capacity, strengthen the domestic supply chain and contribute to enhancing indigenous aerospace manufacturing capabilities,” he added.
The helicopters will have seven new systems, including weapons, and at least four significant upgrades over the existing limited series production (LSP) Prachand helicopters operated by the two services.
The new features in the series production LCH will include locally-made air-to-ground missiles, laser-guided rockets, modern electronic warfare systems, nuclear detection capability, a datalink for secure communication with other platforms, an obstacle avoidance system and directed infrared countermeasures.
HAL has ramped up capacity and begun producing the LCHs at its new helicopter manufacturing facility in Tumakuru, Karnataka.
“The expanded industrial base is expected to create opportunities for a wider network of Indian MSMEs, component manufacturers and aerospace suppliers, contributing to the development of specialised capabilities and strengthening the domestic aerospace supply chain,” HAL added.
HAL will begin delivering the helicopters in 2027-28 and wrap up the order five years thereafter. It has so far manufactured and delivered 15 LSP Prachand helicopters—10 to the IAF and 5 to the army—equipped with air-to-air missiles, unguided rockets and turret guns. LCH currently has an indigenous content of 45% by value, which will progressively increase to more than 65% for the last of the series production version.
In February 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the country’s largest helicopter manufacturing facility, around 70 km from Bengaluru. Apart from the LCH, the new HAL factory, spread across 615 acres, is expected to produce the light utility helicopter, the future 13-tonne Indian multi-role helicopter (IMRH) and its deck-based version. It is capable of building 30 helicopters a year and production can be increased to 100 units of different types with additional investment depending on orders.
The LCH is on one of the government’s positive indigenisation lists for military platforms, which aims to ban the import of various weapons, systems and ammunition over the next five years to boost self-reliance in defence.