India’s very own light combat helicopter manufactured by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is now undergoing final testing in Ladakh.
This demonstration carried out at the request of the Indian Army is expected to be the last before orders are placed by the Indian Air Force and the army for the indigenous light utility helicopter, Livefist Defence has reported.
These helicopters had landed in Ladakh on 19 August and began flying high-altitude sorties between Leh, Daulat Beg Oldie and even Siachen. This demonstration comes at a time when India is locked in a standoff with China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh.
The Indian Armed Forces require about 200 of these light utility choppers which are expected to replace the legacy Cheetah and Chetak helicopters.
These helicopters received the Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) in February with the Final Operational Clearance (FOC) expected to arrive next year.
Source: Swarajya Magazine
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