The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS)  approved the procurement of 15 indigenously designed Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Limited series production at the cost of Rs 3,887 crore. Notably, the powerful CCS is headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The indigenous LCH are being developed and manufactured under the ‘Make in India’ initiative. LCH is the dedicated combat and the only attack helicopter in the world which can land and take-off at an altitude of 5000 m (16400 ft) with considerable load of weapons and fuel meeting the specific requirements of the Indian armed forces.

Besides approving the procurement of 15 LCH Limited Series Production, the CCS also gave the green signal for infrastructure sanctions worth Rs 377 crore.

Once inducted, the LCH would help the Indian Air Force and Indian Army to meet the operational requirements as the helicopter is equipped with requisite agility, maneuverability, extended range, high altitude performance and around-the-clock, all-weather combat capability to perform roles of combat search and rescue (CSAR), destruction of enemy air defence (DEAD), counter insurgency (CI) operations, against slow moving aircraft and remotely piloted aircraft (RPAs), high altitude bunker busting operations, counter insurgency operations in jungle and urban environments and support to ground forces, the Ministry of Defence stated.

The indigenous developed LCH will be equipped with state of the art technologies and systems compatible with stealth features such as reduced visual, aural, radar and IR signatures and crashworthiness features for better survivability. The helicopter are designed in way that can be deployed in combat roles catering to emerging needs for next 3 to 4 decades.