Made In India Light Utility Helicopter receives Initial Operational Clearance
In a major breakthrough, Indigenously developed Light Utility Helicopter(LUH) gets Initial Operational Clearance (IOC). Amidst high tensions along the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh, a new warbird for the Indian Army is ready for induction into service. The Army Version LUH has achieved Initial operation clearance today.
The Army version of the Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) developed indigenously by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited demonstrated its high altitude capability in hot and high weather conditions in the Himalayas over 10 days in the region Indian and Chinese troops are engaged in a protracted stand-off.
A comprehensive test plan was executed at Leh, 3,300 meters above sea level, in temperatures up to ISA+320C, which included envelope expansion, performance, and flying qualities earlier.
The helicopter also demonstrated its payload capability in Siachen Glacier.
During the trials, pilots also landed the helicopter at some of the world’s highest helipads like Amar and Sonam. The Initial Operational Clearance for the basic LUH had been accorded by CEMILAC for the IAF variant on February 7, 2020, during DefExpo 2020 at Lucknow. Today CEMILA has accorded IOC for the Army Berlin of this Light Utilities Helicopter.
The HAL Light Utility Helicopter along with its derivative Light Observation Helicopter is the design and developed by Rotary Wing Research and Design Center one of the R&D sections of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for civilian and military applications. on 6 September 2016, the prototype LUH PT-1 (ZG4620) conduct its maiden flight outside HAL’s manufacturing facility in Bangalore.
Army variant of HAL’s Light Utility Helicopter has received an initial operational clearance (IOC) certificate today.
In 2018, the LUH finished hot weather trials at Nagpur. Testing at sea-level altitudes was completed at Chennai in 2018 and Puducherry in 2019. In January 2019, the LUH completed cold weather trials. The LUH undertook successful high altitude hot weather trials between 24 August and 2 September 2019. By 7 February 2020, three prototypes had cumulatively performed over 550 flights.
On 7 February 2020, the LUH received its Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) from the Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) department of Defence Research and Development. The Indian Army has requested a final demonstration trial before the LUH goes into mass production.
HAL announced the completion of the final demonstration trial on 9 September 2020, which involved envelope expansion, performance, flying qualities, payload, and landing capabilities at the highest altitudes of Siachen Glacier.
The Final Operational Clearance (FOC) is planned for 2021, following tests focused on its automatic flight control system (AFCS)
