India defence ministry unveils domestically-made, high altitude combat helicopters

India’s defence ministry unveiled on Monday its first set of domestically manufactured helicopters, specifically designed for combat operations in high-altitude areas like the Himalayas and other mountainous regions.

The Light Combat Helicopters (LCH), which were developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) "will be a big boost to the Indian Air Force's (IAF) combat prowess", Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said at Jodhpur air base in the west of the country, reported AFP.

The first batch of LCHs were introduced during an IAF ceremony at an airbase in Jodhpur in west India, which was attended by Singh and other senior officials, reported The Hindustan Times.

"For a long time, India has had to be dependent on foreign attack helicopters," he added while speaking at an Air Force base in the western desert state of Rajasthan. "This is an important milestone in India’s defence production".

According to Singh, the choppers can fly in any terrain, weather or altitude, and are seen as another step in reducing the south Asian country’s reliance on foreign arms supply - notably from Russia and the US.

The country’s efforts in boosting domestic weapons are also driven by worries over future supplies from Moscow, following its invasion of Ukraine in February.

Singh further described the helicopters’ manufacturing, which has been under development since 2006, as a "a momentous occasion, a matter of great pride, and a result of two decades of diligent research and development”.

The helicopter, named Prachand, comes with stealth weapons, night-attack capabilities and armoured protection, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Meanwhile, officials have stated that Prachand had been assessed at altitudes up to 16,000 feet (4,875 metres) above sea level, AFP said.

Last month, India revealed its first-ever locally-made aircraft carrier as part of a move to ramp up its domestic defence industry.

India’s efforts in bolstering its weapons manufacturing also come as New Delhi shows increasing concerns over its neighbour China’s assertiveness.

Relations between New Delhi and Beijing worsened following a border clash in its disputed Himalayan border in 2020, which left 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese soldiers dead.

The New Arab and other agencies contributed to this report.