Attack Helicopters of IAF - LCH Prachand, AH-64E Apache : Updates & Discussions

What is the point of having only 6 Apache? This tussle for Apache between the services was such an embarrassment. Now IA will ask for 39 more Apache.
They have been subtly pushing for the extra leftover numbers from that lot already for a year.

Anyway, better late than never. Decent week so far, new ogni, several new info, now new projected orders.
 
Where did it mentioned like that? Anyway IA/IAF needs minimum 6 squadrons of Apache to tackle china & pak, along with the proposed 150+ lch.
it did not, we know ever since Govt decided IAF won't get anymore apaches, they have been gradually lobbying to clear that deal as the extra numbers are already AoN granted. Takes a good bit of time.
 
What is the point of having only 6 Apache? This tussle for Apache between the services was such an embarrassment. Now IA will ask for 39 more Apache.

The tussle was necessary. The IAF were far too busy fulfilling only their requirements that they didn't give 2 craps about the IA's. That's the reason why the IAF couldn't properly support the IA during the Kargil War.

The IA needs a lot of Apaches and LCHs though. If we build ourselves up to American standards, then the 4 Strike Corps alone need 8 Apache, 8 LCH and 8 Rudra squadrons with 20+ helicopters in each squadron.

So these 6 Apaches will form the template for the total numbers the IA will finally ask for. At the very least, the IA will require 1 squadron each for the 4 SCs, with the remaining corps being equipped with LCH.

Each US Army division has 48 attack helicopters and 48 transport helicopters. So they need over 1000 helicopters in all. Whereas the IA has at least 43 divisions, requiring 96 helicopters each. That means the IA requires 4128 helicopters. It would be great if we achieved even half that, a quarter of it being bigger helicopters like the Apache or even HAL's future MCH. We will be somewhere around 1500 instead, both IA and IAF.
 
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it did not, we know ever since Govt decided IAF won't get anymore apaches, they have been gradually lobbying to clear that deal as the extra numbers are already AoN granted. Takes a good bit of time.

The IAF doesn't really need Apaches. With 1 squadron in already, they can now make do with LCH for their requirements. Apaches are mainly required for the anti-infantry and anti-armor role.
 
The IAF doesn't really need Apaches. With 1 squadron in already, they can now make do with LCH for their requirements. Apaches are mainly required for the anti-infantry and anti-armor role.
Who would let go of approved lunch money? It was a good decision to cap IAF quota.
 
The tussle was necessary. The IAF were far too busy fulfilling only their requirements that they didn't give 2 craps about the IA's. That's the reason why the IAF couldn't properly support the IA during the Kargil War.

The IA needs a lot of Apaches and LCHs though. If we build ourselves up to American standards, then the 4 Strike Corps alone need 8 Apache, 8 LCH and 8 Rudra squadrons with 20+ helicopters in each squadron.

So these 6 Apaches will form the template for the total numbers the IA will finally ask for. At the very least, the IA will require 1 squadron each for the 4 SCs, with the remaining corps being equipped with LCH.

Each US Army division has 48 attack helicopters and 48 transport helicopters. So they need over 1000 helicopters in all. Whereas the IA has at least 43 divisions, requiring 96 helicopters each. That means the IA requires 4128 helicopters. It would be great if we achieved even half that, a quarter of it being bigger helicopters like the Apache or even HAL's future MCH. We will be somewhere around 1500 instead, both IA and IAF.
As of now, there is no plan for MCH.
 
Who would let go of approved lunch money? It was a good decision to cap IAF quota.

I don't believe it was capped, rather, as mentioned, LCH was more than enough for IAF requirements, so the IA took over from there for the Apache requirement which they fought for. Any additional Apache orders for the IAF was only in case LCH failed, so that ship has sailed. The IAF is in fact happy with the Rudra as well.

The IA-IAF spat was more about the class and role of helicopters, not the type alone.
As of now, there is no plan for MCH.

IMRH will gives us all the technologies necessary to develop an MCH.
 
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IMRH will gives us all the technologies necessary to develop an MCH.
May or may not, but so far there is no plan to develope imrh to an attack helicopter. Ans i dont think we will ever develop a heavy class helicopter. The combined order from IA&IAaf for Apache is not even touches 30. I dont think mod will spend money to develop a new craft for such low number requirements.
 
May or may not, but so far there is no plan to develope imrh to an attack helicopter. Ans i dont think we will ever develop a heavy class helicopter. The combined order from IA&IAaf for Apache is not even touches 30. I dont think mod will spend money to develop a new craft for such low number requirements.

The plan is pretty old. It is gonna be taken up, depending on what sort of design the IA wants.

"Like the LCH (Light Combat Helicopter) we developed from the Dhruv platform, a similar variant of 10-12 tonnes category can be produced to make it an Apache equivalent," said Madhavan.
 
Expected value of contract for 156 LCH for IAF/IA = Rs. 45,000 = $5.42 billion
Per Airframe cost = ~$35 million
 
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Indian Army LCH firing 70mm rocket
 
I personally think he meant light category attack helicopter as opposed to heavy gunship like apache. Curious to see if IMRH also evolves into a heavy gunship like Rudra-LCH or not. Around 100 each of LCH and Rudra is good strength. Though army aviation should induct more.

On LCH Prachand choppers, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari says, "The requirement for having a very agile combat helicopter was felt immediately during after the Kargil and this indigenous development of the LCH or the Prachand has given a tremendous boost to our capability in are fighting in this domain of helicopter combat operations. We had procured 10 of them initially, for the Indian Air Force, the light combat helicopters, and they have proven their worth. They are indeed very agile, they are capable of carrying out multiple tasks even at high altitudes and these will definitely enhance the capability of the armed forces and the Air Force in particular...I don't think we will ever need to import attack helicopters. This huge tranche of 156 LCH should suffice to meet our own requirements of both the Army and the Air Force..."

 
With all these orders, Modi ji has now walked the talk about 'self-reliance' and indigenisation. Hope we get export orders of Prachand too. That'll be like icing on the cake(sone pe suhaga):)
 
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