Centre signs ₹62,700-crore HAL deal for 156 LCH

• Defence Ministry signs two contracts with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) for 156 indigenous Light Combat Helicopters (LCH) and training equipment.
• The Army will receive 90 of the helicopters, while the remaining 66 are for the Air Force.
• The procurement will commence in the third year and will be spread over the next five years.
• The helicopters are India’s first indigenously designed combat helicopter designed to operate at altitudes over 5,000 meters.
• The procurement will involve over 250 domestic companies, mostly MSMEs, and generate over 8,500 jobs.
• The Ministry also signed a contract with Metrea Management for Wet Leasing of one FRA for air-to-air refuelling training.
• The Army and IAF have already inducted 15 Limited Series Production models of LCH, costing ₹4264 crore.