Prachand LCH Set to Enhance Anti-Tank Capabilities with Helina Missile Integration

The HAL Prachand Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) is expected to receive a significant boost in its firepower as it undergoes integration with the Helina Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) later this year. This integration will equip the Prachand with enhanced anti-tank capabilities, making it a formidable asset for the Indian Armed Forces.

The Helina missile, a helicopter-launched version of the Nag missile, has already proven its effectiveness in tests conducted from the ALH-Rudra attack helicopter. This prior experience is expected to streamline the integration process with the Prachand, as the two helicopters share significant system commonalities.

With a range of 7 kilometers, the Helina missile allows the Prachand to engage targets from a safe distance, ensuring pilot safety while maximizing operational effectiveness.

The missile's Lock-on-After-Launch (LOAL) feature offers additional flexibility, enabling the helicopter to fire the missile in the general direction of the target and then utilize the missile's seeker to lock onto it after identification.

This integration is a crucial step in the ongoing development of the Prachand, aimed at equipping it with a diverse array of weapons to address a wide range of operational scenarios.

The successful integration of the Helina missile will significantly bolster the Prachand's combat capabilities, solidifying its position as a potent weapon system for the Indian Armed Forces.

 

[sanket]

7 kM looks short range should b increase Further in Future.

 

[INDIAN]

We are hearing this from very very long time.

 

[NSR]

I remember reading Helina tested and it has at least 8 km range.
What more tests need to be done?
Endless tests for everything.

But Helina will be a great tank buster for sure and to be feared by two enemies.

 

[Aatish]

7 kM looks short range should b increase Further in Future.

Attack helos are nap of the earth weapons. There's only so far you can see at that altitude due to earth curvature. So You need to increase elevation to seek and target further. That may compromise defense of the helo. Also longer range means more weight, which translate to less weapons carried per sortie. Heavy helos like Apaches can be used as airborne artillery while light and nimble attack helos like LCH are more likely to be used for hit and run and more 7-8km range weapons can be carried than maybe a 15km range ones. For standoff attacks on fixed or slow moving targets, there are other airborne assets that do the same job efficiently.

 

[RalphRearden]

When avionics are literally the same, i dont know why the HAL babus took so much time....probably because they need to justify their existence!

 

[GMR]

What abt SANT, which has a greater range? 2-3 yrs. more?

 

[Sandeep]

To avoid any confusion the HELINA is a 3rd generation ATGM and it’s mainly used by the army’s Rudra helicopter which has a lower range.

The Dhruvastra is a 3rd generation ATGM and it’s mainly used by the air forces Prachand helicopter which has a longer range but HELINA can also be used on it as well.

The SANT is a 4th generation ATGM which is under development but it will be ready for production in a few years time.

Currently orders have already been given to buy the Dhruvastra missile so it’s a major progress which will now allow us to cut down on expensive foreign imports or manufacturing a ATGM under a license.

 

[Sandeep]

When avionics are literally the same, i dont know why the HAL babus took so much time....probably because they need to justify their existence!

Mainly because we already have many Russian missiles in stock so until you use them up for training or destroy it after it reaches its life expiry date then ordering more missiles when it isn’t really needed takes away the funds which can be used to buy another weapon that is needed now.

 

[Sandeep]

We are hearing this from very very long time.

Orders for the first batch of 500 Dhruvastra/Helina ATGM has already been ordered

 

[Sandeep]

What abt SANT, which has a greater range? 2-3 yrs. more?

The SANT is a 4th generation ATGM which is under development but it will be ready for production in a few years time. This missile will have an even longer range and have better penetration power.