HAL to showcase indigenous military aircraft prowess

Bangalore, Feb 8 (PTI) Showcasing its indigenousmanufacturing prowess, the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)will unveil its under-development Light Utility Helicopter andthe Light Combat Helicopter at the Aero India show startinghere tomorrow.

"For the first time, we will show our Light UtilityHelicopter (LUH), which is being developed to replace theCheetah and Chetak helicopter fleet of the Indian air Forceand the Army along with the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH),"HAL officials said here.

The three-tonne helicopter is being put in the HALpavilion for static display, they said.

Once developed, the helicopter would be able to carryout surveillance and reconnaissance missions along withplaying search and rescue roles.

The LCH, the officials said, would also take part inthe flying displays and would be placed at the tarmac forstatic display, they said.

The attack helicopter has been under development since2006 and has undergone several test flights. The HAL hadrolled it out in March last year.

HAL has plans of getting the LCH ready by 2012 for itsinduction in the Indian Air Force. The Light Combat Aircraft(LCA) Tejas would also be present at the show and take part inthe flying display also, they said.