Analysis How IAF's LCH Prachand Can Become A Long-Range, Precision-Strike Platform with Israel's 300km 'Ice Breaker' Missile

India's indigenous Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) 'Prachand' could soon be transformed into a long-range precision strike platform, capable of hitting targets from a safe distance of up to 300 kilometres.

The potential upgrade comes as a result of an offer from Israeli firm RAFAEL Advanced Defence Systems, which has confirmed that its advanced 'Ice Breaker' missile can be equipped on the Indian attack helicopter.

The Ice Breaker is a 5th-generation autonomous missile system designed to strike high-value targets on both land and sea.

According to officials from RAFAEL, the missile, which has already been offered to the Indian Air Force (IAF) for its fighter jets, is also compatible with the Prachand helicopter.

This development could significantly enhance the offensive power of the domestically-produced helicopter, which is built by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and designed for high-altitude warfare.

A feasibility study has already confirmed that the integration is technically possible.

The LCH Prachand has a maximum weapon payload of approximately 920 kg. The Ice Breaker missile weighs around 400 kg, meaning the helicopter could potentially carry one or two of these powerful weapons without a major impact on its performance.

This would provide the helicopter with a "standoff" capability, allowing it to fire at enemy targets from well beyond visual range and outside the reach of most short-range air defence systems.

This capability is particularly relevant for India's strategic needs along contested border areas like the Line of Actual Control (LAC)

The missile's advanced guidance system, which uses a combination of electro-optics, artificial intelligence, and GPS, ensures extreme accuracy even in environments where satellite signals are jammed.

Its ability to perform complex flight patterns and attack from multiple directions makes it effective against both stationary infrastructure, like bunkers, and moving targets, such as warships.

While the offer presents a significant opportunity, a formal decision to procure the missile system is yet to be made by India's defence establishment.

The Ice Breaker has also been offered to the Indian Navy for its fleet of MiG-29K and Rafale M fighter jets. If both the IAF and the Navy were to adopt the missile, it would promote interoperability, allowing for shared logistics, training, and a more unified weapons inventory across services.

The potential adoption of the Ice Breaker missile represents a major step in bolstering the firepower of India's indigenous military platforms.

If approved, the integration would turn the LCH Prachand into a formidable force multiplier, effectively bridging the gap between the traditional roles of helicopters and the deep-strike capabilities of fighter jets.

 

As Drone Threats Mount, Indian Army Considers Converting Soviet-era T-72 Tanks into Robotic Platforms for High-Risk Zones

DRDO's Updated Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle Showcases Critical New Design Refinements Since Its 2020 Flight Test

[Mc Addy]

All this is good, but what it's meant is for higher-altitude action. Why don't we make laser-guided precision shells with rocket motors, as it's already in use worldwide, and put a laser designator on Prachand LCH so it's a sniper in mountains, where it can designate a target via laser? One precision shell with a top attack can finish the matter. The gun carriage can then really shoot and scoot fast, avoiding counter-battery fire and drones. The same can happen to a mechanized formation on the move, as when the anti-aircraft cover is taken out, the entire formation becomes exposed to other means via air easily. We need high-tech, mass-produced laser-homing accessories for artillery, good optics, and lasers on the LCH.

 

[Mc Addy]

Make a smaller BrahMos-NG for choppers too, as it's possible, so coastal defence can be made robust, especially around islands; it's the shock, more than the damage at sea, that will work.

 

[sanket]

Oh, DRDO should develop an indigenously similar class missile, it has said it can develop any missile within two years given the time.

Thought it would be handy for the Naval Variant fighter jet; will Dassault allow it to integrate on the Rafale-M as this is a third-party weapon? Earlier, MBDA France denied Meteor integration on the Tejas MK1A, citing the ELTA-2052 as being an Israeli AESA Radar.

This is what French/Dassault is busy playing games with, while on the MiG-29, it will be seamless integration. That's the difference in buying a French vs. a Russian platform.

First, there's Dassault's variety in the weapon package, and second, they deny integration; another prime example is SPICE Bomb integration on the Rafale, again, a deal was signed in 2016, yet SPICE hasn't been integrated.

 

[Flanker]

We should acquire both the Ice Breaker and Sky Sting missiles in large numbers.

 

[Nobody In here]

Helicopters are too slow against modern air defence systems, and 400 kg missiles are simply too heavy and should be carried only by fighter jets. For choppers, the maximum should be 200 kg.

 

[Kira]

A good enough addition to the LCH, which is already very under-armed.

 

[Sandeep]

India should definitely not buy or manufacture it under a license at all. We won’t get 100% of the technology or manufacture 100% of it in India and the most crucial technology, parts, components will only be given to us directly. Without that crucial part or technology the missile won’t work or fire at all which makes us heavily reliant on Israel for the weapons.

We are currently developing the Rudram MK1-3 series of air to surface missile which has a range of 300km or more. This will be a 100% indigenously designed, developed and manufactured in India from local raw materials.

 

[Vishwanath Vijay Thomre]

LCH Prachand, this was developed particularly as a substitute or equivalant to Apachi from US, correct me if wrong. LCH Prachand is a damn good machine and this serves military quiet well. This is a flat rated machine and not like Apachi which falters in different weatheric conditions. If we are to become Atmanirbhar we must support our systems. No foreign platform was built best in its first attempt they have also come across many developments. Prachand can be made a force multiplier if we encourage the machine and invest in its further development. Tejas is classic example which is turning out to be a very goof platform over refinements in it.​

 

[Vasugali]

All this is good, but what it's meant is for higher-altitude action. Why don't we make laser-guided precision shells with rocket motors, as it's already in use worldwide, and put a laser designator on Prachand LCH so it's a sniper in mountains, where it can designate a target via laser? One precision shell with a top attack can finish the matter. The gun carriage can then really shoot and scoot fast, avoiding counter-battery fire and drones. The same can happen to a mechanized formation on the move, as when the anti-aircraft cover is taken out, the entire formation becomes exposed to other means via air easily. We need high-tech, mass-produced laser-homing accessories for artillery, good optics, and lasers on the LCH.

If our Army and GoI ,IAF sit together with HAL and give constructive suggestions, all the requirements as above can be fulfilled. Now theat Russia is offering TOT for almost everything like SU 57, R37 M. KH 69, 177S and S500 on relatively liberal terms compared to the West , India would do well to make good use of the proposed opportunity based on the merit . Customisation of SU 30 MKI is a good example and may be emulated to the extent deemed fit to avoid Dependency on US in particular.

 

[Mc Addy]

If our Army and GoI ,IAF sit together with HAL and give constructive suggestions, all the requirements as above can be fulfilled. Now theat Russia is offering TOT for almost everything like SU 57, R37 M. KH 69, 177S and S500 on relatively liberal terms compared to the West , India would do well to make good use of the proposed opportunity based on the merit . Customisation of SU 30 MKI is a good example and may be emulated to the extent deemed fit to avoid Dependency on US in particular.

Battlefield surprise needs innovation, west is making stuff besides Russia,that are high tech , my idea is that all the manned flying machine,if got precision accessories,then damage to enemy can be done in a fraction of cost and we do get chance to live another day from retaliation,that has now become very swift . So choppers , will smaller Bhramos Ng , lasers, drone jammers pods, loyal wingman heavy drones , can do a lot of work ,if sensors and optics are top of the line and so should be comm data links . We can turn tables with 1 pair of choppers ,high in mountains,in a few minutes.

 

[Mc Addy]

I can list a few accessories for LCH ,if more powerful engines can be fitted in upcoming models so more lifting work is possible.
1. Drone jammer pods , once over a area , atleast 50 sq km can be under jamming , causing approaching drone swarm to lose contact inbetween themselves and falling ,in case they move over a difficult to monitor or defend terrain.
2. Bhramos Ng type , small size missiles with top attack capabilities in mountains so from top , bunkers , tunnels can be hit as angle of attack then can be adjusted.

3. The new SAWW glide bomb cum cruise missiles ,that can do same work and maybe enter tunnnel complexes like that Kirana hill ,on our borders.

4. Laser guidence to rocket assisted artillery shells , to do precise top attack on multiple types of targets ,itt can be done fast as normal shell in mountains,due to rarefied atmosphere goes far , faster and becomes off target to calculations done in ballistic computers due to weather and altitude ,thus not only more shells are fired but counter battery and enemy drone action becomes a reality very fast.precison shells , cut this natural factor out of action

5.UCAV guidence into highly contested air defence network type , for jamming to direct destruction of such defences ,that may be hidden or waiting to be switched on but only in close quarters,can be seen as all got imagination to Camouflage hardware.

6. High fragmnation proximity fuse type rockets for drone destruction, as exploding drones have destroyed many jets in Ukraine as blast catches light skin ,fast moving aircrafts which cant manouver fast enough out of blast fragmataion area that they hit themselves , so fast ,cheap rockets targetting heavy drones is possible from 6 to 7km from a helicopter.

7. Small air to air missiles, for cruise missile and heavy terrain following drones .

A pair of helicopters can dominate 100 sq km of high value area easily in mountains, reducing reaction time and doing real work in real time as they can loiter ,hover or simply move upon getting command ,from a concealed location .