India desperately needed a modern attack helicopter to meet challenges like faced by our valiant forces in Kargil conflict which was treacherously thrust on India by Pakistan in 1999 lasting for nearly three months, especially one that was a better version even than US made Apacche twin turbo shaft attack helicopter. Such a version designed specially for landing and taking off from high altitudes was to be met and it is a matter of great pride that it was got done and that too “Made in India”. That this requirement could be met all indigenously is nothing short of a feat and a great step towards being on a fast track of self reliance. Needless to add, in today’s warfare helicopters are important next to none in their versatility hence the “Prachand” helicopter.
It is, therefore, intensive and vigorous thrust on the great importance of not relying on ”others” and doing it mostly on ”our own” especially in defence products that has resulted in making of an attack helicopter ” Prachand.” Not relying largely on other countries has transformed India into an exporting country from a ”traditional” importing country with an increasing list of customer countries swelling, now, up to over 70. Targets are accordingly fixed in respect of how much to produce indigenously and how much more by which year to be exported. By or before 2025, a target of such exports of defence products is slated to exceed Rs.35000 crore on annual basis.
On October 3, therefore, all Indian made attack helicopter named as “Prachand” became an added prized possession of Indian Air Force. Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in whose presence the fully “Bhartia” gunship LCH chopper was inducted into the IAF rightly called it a “momentous occasion” for the country’s defence production . The development of this nature – “Prachand” attack flying machine in the levels of indigenous talent, research, innovation and capabilities of India must surely have given some measure of Goosebumps and cold shivers to our belligerent neighbours who have constantly been not only showing but even practically executing acts of hostilities towards this country containing and thwarting which, we, as a sovereign strong nation, have to be in perpetual defence preparedness in all possible ways. It is, therefore, incumbent upon the Government to make the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) more vibrant and equip it with all the requisite infrastructure and more importantly, encourage those in all ways who are engaged in developing, research, innovation, designing, engineering and in adding other features like weapon (ising) to our defence products.
World is fast changing and so are the ways to fight modern day war. Today’s war can never be fought with yester years ‘ obsolete defence products and by conventional ways. A matching, a parity and a compatibility in developing and acquiring the weapons of all types is the need of the hour including aircraft, war ships, advancement in IT techniques or developing computer technology to disrupt, dislodge, incapacitate and disrupt enemy’s strategic capabilities. A country, needless to add, is deemed to be really strong if it has capabilities to largely stand on its own legs rather than on other countries and in grave emergencies like wars, touchstone of such greatness is where does the country stand mainly in terms of defence requirements and its food production and stocks in addition to other sectors. Only then can we defend our freedom and territories besides our vital and strategic national assets.
”Prachand” the name given by the Union Defence Minister at the event means “Fierce” or “Frenetic” which is what this LCH attack helicopter is said to be all about. Needless to add, on November 19, 2021 Prime Minister Narendra Modi had formally handed over the helicopter to the IAF thus paving the way for full scale production after mandatory basic trials were conducted. This flying machine has been duly tested both in high altitude bases as well as in ”extreme” hot desert conditions and can be fitted with air to air missiles besides other weapons like 20 mm turret guns, rocket systems etc and is to be used not only by the IAF but even by our Army. IAF is immediately to get 10 and the Army 5 of these helicopters. Needless to add, within two months, India demonstrated which heights our indigenisation mission had touched through its three indigenously made items required for our defence requirements. The howitzer 155 mm ATGS gun which gave the (maiden) ceremonial gun salute at Red Fort on August 15, this year followed by INS Vikrant and now LCH attack helicopter “Prachand”. Tejas fighter aircraft has already earned worldwide awe and generated interest in many countries including the most advanced ones.
This helicopter is twin engined, strong, fast, deadly accurate in striking , quick to land and take off specially in high altitude mountainous regions from where the vulnerability to country’s security threats is comparatively more. For making defence products like the one under reference and with an aim to make it entire indigenous, it is not a matter of days or months and, therefore, the journey of the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) developing state-of-the art manufacturing process for making ‘Prachand”, right from conceiving to making followed by critical tests and trials and finally up to actual induction in the Indian Air Force, it took nearly more than 12 years.
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