Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has handed over two miniature drones of Light Combat Helicopter (HAL's LCH) indigenously built by Indian startups "Switch 10 UAV and MR 20" to the Air Force. The HCH is mainly built under the Make in India scheme with the participation of private industry.
- LCH is a new piece of equipment for the Helicopter Division of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). This twin-engine helicopter LCH is a dedicated combat helicopter is belongs to the category of 5 to 8-ton class.
- The LCH incorporates advanced technologies and stealth facilities for effective combat roles and is designed to meet such roles as enemy air defence, countermeasures, exploration, and rescue, anti-tank, counter-surface force operations, etc.
- The LCH is the only attack helicopter in the world capable of landing and taking off at an altitude of 5000 meters with a substantial load of weapons and fuel.
- It is effective in temperatures up to minus 50 °C on snowy peaks.
- The LCH will be eventually deployed in service along the Line of Actual Control with China in addition to the AH-64E Apache helicopter.
Switch 1.0 UAV
The Switch can fly at altitudes of over 4500 m with its unique capabilities of 1.0 UAV, flight duration of 1.5 hours, and 15 km. It has a continuance of about 90 minutes and will maintain monitoring operations of the Indian Army under harsh environments and utmost altitudes for day and night monitoring along India's borders.
MR 20
The MR 20 helicopter drone has the capacity to carry a load of up to 20 kg. It will be used to carry food, primary commodities, emergency medical aid, ammunition, and killers to troops stationed at high altitudes in forwarding areas.