Indian defence experts are strongly advocating for the domestically produced Light Utility Helicopter (LUH), developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), as the superior choice for the nation's high-altitude military requirements.
This endorsement highlights the LUH's advanced engineering and represents a significant step towards India's goal of self-sufficiency in defence production.
The LUH's backing comes as Airbus Helicopters markets its H125, a design originating in the 1970s, as a potential solution for the Indian Army and Air Force.
However, defence analysts are increasingly vocal that selecting a home-grown, modern solution like the LUH, which has rapidly proven its capabilities, is crucial for India's ongoing military modernization efforts.
The LUH, intended to replace the aging Cheetah and Chetak helicopters, is a prime example of the "Indian Designed, Developed, and Manufactured" (IDDM) category within the "Make in India" initiative.
The project started in 2015 and the helicopter had its first flight was in September 2016. The LUH has not only flown but has also successfully completed demanding high-altitude trials in the Siachen Glacier, the world's highest battlefield, situated at over 20,000 feet. This demonstrates its capability to perform in extreme conditions where older helicopters have faced limitations.
Sandeep Unnithan, a respected defence journalist, highlighted the LUH's rapid development on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), stating that it was unprecedented for a defence platform to progress from design to Siachen trials in just five years. He emphasized the importance of large-scale production orders for the HAL-developed LUH, reinforcing its IDDM status.
This sentiment is widely shared among experts who recognize the LUH's development as a significant achievement, particularly given India's history of lengthy defence procurement processes.
The LUH is powered by a single Shakti-1U engine, a joint development of HAL and the French company Safran. It has a maximum takeoff weight of 3.12 tonnes, can travel up to 500 kilometers, and can reach an altitude of 21,325 feet.
With its modern glass cockpit, composite rotor blades, and a payload capacity of 1,000 kilograms (for personnel, casualties, or cargo), the LUH is a versatile and modern successor to the 1960s-era Cheetah and Chetak helicopters, which have been the mainstay of the Army and Air Force in challenging terrains like Ladakh and India's Northeast. LUH is also equipped with a Smart Cockpit Display System.
Airbus Helicopters has been actively promoting its H125 (previously known as the AS350 Écureuil) as an alternative, either through a direct government-to-government agreement with France or through a competitive bidding process.
The H125 is a globally recognized platform used in various civilian and light military roles. However, its design traces back to the Aerospatiale AS350, which first flew in 1974. The H125 can fly at the altitude of 23,000 feet, and it's maximum take-off weight is 2,250 kg.
Indian analysts have expressed reservations about Airbus's proposal, suggesting that the H125, despite some updates, does not offer the specialized design features of the LUH. They argue that adopting the H125 would be a step back, given the current emphasis on indigenous defence capabilities.
Defence commentator Abhijit Pandey, on X, criticized Airbus's offer, stating that it was essentially a decades-old design with minor improvements. This reflects a general concern that the H125's single-engine design and older airframe are less suited to India's specific high-altitude operational needs compared to the LUH, which was specifically created for these conditions.
Furthermore, choosing the LUH ensures greater integration with India's existing defence infrastructure and promotes strategic independence through domestic manufacturing.
