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Private Firms Secure ₹25,000 Crore Share in HAL’s Mega Deal for 156 Light Combat Helicopters.

Defence | Dated: 09 Apr 2025

In April 2025, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) secured a major deal worth ₹62,500 crore from the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) for the supply of 156 Light Combat Helicopters (LCH) to the Indian Army (IA) and the Indian Air Force (IAF). Following the approval of this mega deal, HAL has planned to allocate approximately ₹25,000 crore (40%) of the contract value to private sector firms.

🎯 Key Highlights:

  • - This strategic move is expected to boost the defence industrial ecosystem and significantly promote self-reliance in aerospace manufacturing across India at all levels.
  • - The order for 156 Light Combat Helicopters (LCH) will be split between the Indian Army (90 helicopters) and the Indian Air Force (66 helicopters) for deployment along the China and Pakistan borders. This move marks a significant push towards job creation and aerospace ecosystem expansion within India.
  • - HAL will manufacture the helicopters at its facilities in Bengaluru and Tumkur, Karnataka. As India’s largest aerospace firm, HAL now maintains an order book exceeding ₹2 lakh crore, which also includes 83 Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)—10 of which are trainer variants—and 12 Su-30MKI fighter jets.

💡 Other Important Facts:

  • (i) The Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), named Prachand, is the only attack helicopter in the world capable of taking off and landing at altitudes up to 5,000 meters (16,400 feet).i. The Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), named Prachand, is the only attack helicopter in the world capable of taking off and landing at altitudes up to 5,000 meters (16,400 feet).
  • (ii) This remarkable high-altitude capability makes it ideal for operations in extreme terrains such as the Siachen Glacier and Eastern Ladakh.
  • (iii) The Prachand is equipped to launch a wide range of air-to-ground and air-to-air missiles, allowing it to neutralize enemy air defense systems and conduct precision strike operations effectively.

📚 Test Your Knowledge:

Recently, how many Light Combat Helicopters (LCH) has HAL been approved to supply under its mega deal?

Correct Answer: 156

🚀 Quick Recap:

About Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)

  • Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) : Dr. DK Sunil
  • Headquarters : Bengaluru, Karnataka