Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: TH
Context: The Indian Army’s Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Prachand recently conducted its inaugural firing during both day and night operations.
- Besides the 20mm nose gun and 70mm rockets, the LCH is equipped with a helicopter-launched anti-tank guided missile and a new air-to-air missile, which is distinct from the ‘Mistral-2’ used on the IAF LCH.
The Prachand is India’s first indigenous multi-role combat helicopter. It was developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
Features
- Designed for: The Indian armed forces operating in deserts and mountainous areas
- Range: 700 km
- Flight ceiling: The highest among all attack helicopters in the world
- Landing and take-off altitude: 5,000 meters (16,400 ft)
- Weapons: Can carry lethal weapons and destroy targets
Various types of aircraft used by the Indian Air Force:
| Aircraft Type | Examples |
| Fighter Aircraft | Sukhoi Su-30MKI – Dassault Rafale – MiG-29 – Tejas (Light Combat Aircraft) |
| Attack Aircraft | SEPECAT Jaguar – HAL Tejas – MiG-27 |
| Transport Aircraft | Lockheed C-130J Super Hercules – Antonov An-32 – Boeing C-17 Globemaster III |
| Helicopters | HAL Dhruv – Mil Mi-17 – Boeing AH-64E Apache – HAL Rudra (Weaponized Dhruv) |
| Reconnaissance Aircraft | IAI Heron – Embraer EMB 145 AEW&C – HAL Cheetah |
| Trainer Aircraft | HAL HJT-16 Kiran – BAE Hawk – Pilatus PC-7 Mk II |
| Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) | Embraer EMB 145 AEW&C – DRDO Netra |
| Aerial Refueling Aircraft | Ilyushin Il-78 (MARS) |
| Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) | DRDO Rustom – IAI Searcher II – General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper |
