HAL’s LCH fires 70-mm rockets ahead of Iron Fist

Bengaluru, March 14: Ahead of Indian Air Force's (IAF) Fire Power Demonstration, Iron Fist-2016, Hindustan Aeronautic Limited on Monday claimed that the home-grown Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) successfully fired 70-mm rockets.

According to HAL officials, the Technology Demonstrator (TD-3) from the LCH flight-line successfully achieved the milestone.

HAL now says that LCH would be participating during Iron Fist-2016, scheduled to begin at the Pokhran ranges from March 18.

HAL Chairman T Suvarna Raju told OneIndia that the LCH programme is fast-approaching its intended target of final certification.

"The programme is on track and we are all looking ahead for its performance during Iron Fist. We also have two Tejas platforms being already positioned for the event," Raju said.

Raju said the initial rocket firing trials by LCH have been carried out at Jaisalmer, establishing satisfactory integration of hardware and software, structural integrity and safe separation of rocket ammunition.

"Integration of weapons such as rocket, turret gun (20 mm) and air-to-air missile on LCH will further continue. These trials give us confidence for carrying out certification firing trials planned during April-May 2016," Raju said.

LCH had successfully carried out the hot and the high-altitude trials at Leh in September 2015.

During the trials, LCH had proven its hover performance and low speed handling characteristics under extreme weather conditions at different altitudes (3200-4800 m).

The temperatures during the trials ranged from 13 to 27 degree centigrade. Among the tests then conducted included assessment and validation of flight envelope in ‘hot-and-high' conditions, culminating in landing at forward bases at geographic elevations of 13,600 feet to 15,800 feet.

OneIndia News