New Delhi has ordered 156 attack helicopters from Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL), as well as contracted an air-to-air tanker.
On 28 March India’s defence ministry announced that it would obtain the ‘Prachand’ Light Combat Helicopters (LCH) for INR627 billion ($7.5 billion).
The contract will see the country’s army take 80 LCHs and its air force 66.
In February, HAL told FlightGlobal that it was expecting orders for 156 LCHs and 97 Tejas Light Combat Aircraft Mk1A fighters.
Deliveries of the helicopters will be spread over the next five years.
The ministry notes that the LCH was designed locally and is capable of operating at altitudes above 16,400ft. High altitude operations are an essential requirement given India’s long Himalayan frontier with regional rival China.
In addition, New Delhi is wet leasing a single Boeing KC-135 from defence services company Metrea Management – formerly known as Meta Aerospace.
Within six months, Metrea will provide the aircraft, which will be used for air-to-air refuelling training for the air force and navy.
With just six Ilyushin Il-78 tankers, air-to-air refuelling is among the many challenges facing Indian airpower. Media reports suggest that the Russian-built Il-78s face chronic sustainment issues.
The country has looked at several options for improving its tanker fleet, including ordering new-build tankers and converting airliners.
In July 2024 Washington, DC-based Metrea announced that it would obtain the French air force’s fleet of 14 KC-135FR/RG aircraft, adding to four KC-135Rs that it acquired from Singapore in 2020.
