Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: The Cabinet Committee on Security on Friday approved a massive ₹45,000 crore deal for the procurement of 156 indigenous Light Combat Helicopters (LCH) ‘Prachand’, marking the biggest-ever defence order for Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). This move is seen as a major boost to India’s self-reliance in defence manufacturing.
According to officials, the helicopters will be manufactured at HAL’s Bengaluru and Tumakuru plants in Karnataka, as part of the government’s Make in India initiative to promote indigenous military production.
Of the 156 LCH Prachand choppers, 90 will be deployed with the Indian Army, while 66 are meant for the Indian Air Force (IAF). The LCH is specially designed for high-altitude operations and is the only attack helicopter in the world capable of taking off and landing at altitudes of 5,000 meters (16,400 feet).
This approval comes as part of a broader push to modernise India’s defence forces. The Ministry of Defence has already signed contracts worth ₹2.09 lakh crore in the current financial year.
Recently, the Cabinet also cleared a significant deal for the procurement of 307 Advanced Towed Artillery Gun Systems (ATAGS) howitzers, further showcasing the government’s commitment to strengthening India’s military capabilities with indigenous systems.
