FASTeR is a Performance-Based Logistics contract providing weapon systems sustainment of the F-22 fleet at all operational bases for the 2010 calendar year, including training systems, customer support, integrated support planning, supply chain management, aircraft modifications and heavy maintenance, sustained engineering, support products and systems engineering.

“Our focus in sustaining the F-22 Raptor fleet is total support to our customer by helping enable higher readiness rates, more sorties, faster response and lower life-cycle costs,” said Scott Gray, F-22 Program vice president of sustainment for Lockheed Martin. “Our mature supplier base ensures the F-22 receives efficient support anywhere in the world and provides the fastest, most effective link between customer requirements and delivered capability.”

F-22 Raptors are assigned to seven U.S. bases. Flight testing takes place at Edwards AFB, Calif. Operational tactics development is ongoing at Nellis AFB, Nev. Pilot training occurs at Tyndall AFB, Fla. Operational F-22 aircraft are assigned to Langley AFB, Va.; Elmendorf AFB, Alaska; Holloman AFB, N.M.; and Hickam AFB, Hawaii.

The world’s only operational 5th generation fighter, the F-22 boasts a unique combination of stealth, speed, agility, situational awareness and lethal long-range air-to-air and air-to-ground weaponry to make it the world’s best air dominance fighter and to enable it to deter and defeat current and emerging threats.

The first aircraft is of the C 130J-30 “long” configuration and the new order is for two C-130J “short” configuration aircraft.

“The C-130J is ideally suited to the operating conditions found in Oman and other areas of the Gulf,” said Jim Grant, Lockheed Martin vice president for Air Mobility and Special Operations Forces Programs. “In selecting the C-130J Super Hercules, Oman has recognized all the proven qualities of the world’s most advanced airlifter.”

Oman currently operates a fleet of three C-130Hs purchased in the early 1980s. The new C-130J fleet will support Omani operations with its outstanding capability to operate out of remote, austere airstrips.

The fuselage of F-CK-1 closely resembles F-16 and F/A-18 since the program has received assistance from U.S defense contractors. The cockpit is very similar to that of F-16, with the side-stick controller on the right, the throttles on the left, and the Martin-Baker Mk 12 zero/zero ejection seat sloped at thirty degrees. There is one Elbit HUD, two Bendix MFDs, and Honeywell H423 inertial navigation system. Allied Signals’ AiResearch Division helped design the environment control system. Canopies on pre-production aircraft and two-seaters are hinged on starboard side and open to port; while those on production single-seat aircraft are hinged on the rear and open upward.

At the end of 1982, the F-CK-1′s role shifted from a high-speed interceptor to an air superiority fighter . U.S. engine company Garrett and AIDC invested in the new International Turbine Engine Corporation (ITEC). ITEC completely redesigned the TFE-1042-7 that powers the IDF into the TFE-1042-70, and the investment had increased from USD 1.8 billion to about USD 3.2 billion..

In 1988, ITEC decided to invest in the 12000 lb TFE-1088-12, which was re-designated as TFE-1042-70A. Preliminary study had shown that IDF could supersonic cruise with the new engine. At the same time, GE decided to enter the market with J101/SF, a smaller version of F404. However after the IDF order was cut in half from 250 to 130 in 1992, the TFE-1088-12 engine upgrade plan ended as well. Since then, there are many rumors of AIDC completing engine upgrade research in private, but no direct public announcement of F-CK-1 fleet engine upgrade was ever made officially by either ROCAF or AIDC.

General characteristics

* Crew: 1-2
* Length: 14.21 m (46 ft 7 in)
* Wingspan: 9.46 m (31 ft 0 in)
* Height: 4.42 m (14 ft 6 in)
* Wing area: 24.2 m² (260 ft²)
* Empty weight: 6,500 kg (14,300 lb)
* Loaded weight: 9,072 kg (20,000 lb)
* Max takeoff weight: 12,000 kg (27,000 lb)
* Powerplant: 2× Honeywell F125-70
o Dry thrust: 27 kN (6,000 lbf) each
o Thrust with afterburner: 42 kN (9,500 lbf) each

Performance

* Maximum speed: Mach 1.8
* Range: 1,100 km (600 nmi, 680 mi)
* Service ceiling: 16,800 m (55,000 ft)
* Rate of climb: m/s (ft/min)

Armament

* Guns: 1× 20 mm (0.787 in) M61A1 cannon
* Missiles:
o 2× Sky Sword I
o 2× Sky Sword II
o Wan Chien cluster bomb

Avionics

* Radar: 1× GD-53 X-band pulse doppler
* Effective scanning range:
o Look down: 39 km (24 mi)
o Look up: 57 km (35 mi)

“For the first time in military aviation history, supersonic, radar-evading stealth comes with short takeoff/vertical landing capability,” said Bob Price, Lockheed Martin’s F-35 U.S. Marine Corps program manager. “The supersonic F-35B can deploy from small ships and austere bases near front-line combat zones, greatly enhancing combat air support with higher sortie-generation rates.” The F-35B will enter service for the Marines, the United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force and Royal Navy, and the Italian Air Force and Navy.

The supersonic milestone was achieved on the 30th flight of the F-35B known as BF-2. U.S. Marine Corps pilot Lt. Col. Matt Kelly climbed to 30,000 feet and accelerated to Mach 1.07 in the off-shore supersonic test track near Naval Air Station Patuxent River. Future testing will gradually expand the flight envelope out to the aircraft’s top speed of Mach 1.6, which the F-35 is designed to achieve with a full internal weapons load of more than 3,000 pounds. All F-35s are designed to launch internal missiles at maximum supersonic speed, as well as launch internal guided bombs supersonically. During the flight, Kelly accomplished 21 unique test points, including several Integrated Test Blocks to validate roll, pitch, yaw and propulsion performance.

BF-2 is the third F-35 to achieve supersonic flight. Two F-35A conventional takeoff and landing variants also have broken the sound barrier.

The F-35 program has about 900 suppliers in 45 states, and directly and indirectly employs more than 127,000 people. Thousands more are employed in the F-35 partner countries, which have invested more than $4 billion in the project. Those countries are the United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey, Canada, Australia, Denmark and Norway.

Three F-35 variants are under development – the F-35A CTOL variant to replace U.S. Air Force F-16s and A-10s, as well as aircraft employed by seven allied nations; the F-35B STOVL variant to replace U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B Harriers and F/A-18s, U.K. Royal Air Force and Royal Navy Harrier GR.7s, GR.9s and Sea Harriers, and Italian Harriers; and the F-35C carrier variant to replace U.S. Navy F/A-18s.

The F-35 Lightning II is a 5th generation fighter, combining advanced stealth with fighter speed and agility, fully fused sensor information, network-enabled operations, advanced sustainment, and lower operational and support costs. Lockheed Martin is developing the F-35 with its principal industrial partners, Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems. Two separate, interchangeable turbofan engines are under development: the Pratt & Whitney F135 and the GE Rolls-Royce Fighter Engine Team F136.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 136,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation reported 2009 sales of $45.2 billion.

During the three-hour flight, the joint Boeing and Navy test team exercised mission computing on all five operator workstations and successfully demonstrated key systems — including acoustics, mission planning, tactical data-link, communications, electronic support measures and flight test instrumentation — for the first time.

“This successful flight moves us a step closer to getting the Poseidon and its next-generation radar and sensors into the hands of the warfighter,” said Chuck Dabundo, Boeing vice president and P-8 program manager. “Future flights will demonstrate the state-of-the-art systems that will provide the Navy superior performance well into the 21st century.”

T2 is one of five test aircraft that are being assembled and tested as part of the U.S. Navy System Development and Demonstration contract Boeing received in 2004. Boeing’s T1 airworthiness-test aircraft entered flight testing in October 2009 and arrived at the Navy’s Patuxent River facility in April 2010.

The Navy plans to purchase 117 P-8A anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft to replace its P-3 fleet. Initial operational capability is planned for 2013.

The Boeing P-8 Poseidon (formerly the Multimission Maritime Aircraft or MMA) is a military aircraft currently being developed for the United States Navy. It is intended to conduct anti-submarine warfare, shipping interdiction, and to engage in an electronic intelligence (ELINT) role. This will involve carrying torpedoes, depth charges, AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles, and other weapons. It will also be able to drop and monitor sonobuoys. It is designed to operate in conjunction with the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance unmanned aerial vehicle. The P-8 is being developed by Boeing’s Defense, Space, & Security division from the 737-800.

The C-130J is the newest version of the Hercules and the only model still in production. Externally similar to the classic Hercules in general appearance, the J model sports considerably updated technology. These differences include new Rolls-Royce AE 2100 D3 turboprops  with Dowty R391 composite scimitar propellers, digital avionics (including Head-Up Displays (HUDs) for each pilot) and reduced crew requirements (two pilots and one loadmaster—no navigator or flight engineer).

The aircraft can also be configured with the “enhanced cargo handling system”. The system consists of a computerized load masters station from where the user can remotely control the under floor winch and also configure the flip floor system to palletized roller or flat floor cargo handling. The cargo compartment is approximately 41 feet long, 9 feet high, and 10 feet wide, and loading is from the rear of the fuselage. Initially developed for the USAF, this system enables rapid role changes to be carried out and so extends the C-130J’s time available to complete taskings. These combined changes have improved performance over its C-130E/H siblings, such as 40% greater range, 21% higher maximum speed, and 41% shorter take-off distance.

Lockheed Martin is a public global security company headquartered in Bethesda, MD which is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainability of advanced technology systems, products and services. Based in the U. S. it has varied worldwide interests on areas such as aerospace, defense, security, and advanced technology.

Formed in 1995, Lockheed Martin was the merger of Lockheed with Martin Marietta in March 1995. The headquarters is located at Bethesda, Maryland, in the Washington Metropolitan Area. Lockheed products included the Trident missile, P-3 Orion, F-16 Fighting Falcon, F-22 Raptor, C-130 Hercules, A-4AR Fighting hawk and the DSCS-3 satellite. Martin Marietta products included Titan rockets, Sandia National Laboratories, Space Shuttle External Tank, Viking 1 and Viking 2 landers, the Transfer Orbit Stage and various satellite models.

Lockheed Martin completed the acquisition of Loral Corporation’s defense electronics and system integration businesses for $9.1 billion on April 22, 1996. Due to government concerns over the potential strength of the new group; Lockheed Martin abandoned plans for a $8.3 billion merger with Northrop Grumman on July 16, 1998. The company provided NASA with measurements in imperial force units when metric was required, resulting in the loss of the Mars Climate Orbiter at a cost of $125 million. In May 2000, Lockheed Martin sold Lockheed Martin Control Systems to BAE Systems. On November 27, 2000; Lockheed also sold its Aerospace Electronic Systems business to BAE Systems for $1.67 billion.

In 2001, Lockheed Martin won the contract to build the F-35 Lightning II; with an initial order of 3,000 worth $200 billion before export orders.

Lockheed Martin settled a nine year investigation conducted by NASA’s Office of Inspector General with the assistance of the Defense Contract Audit Agency later in 2001 and paid the United States government $7.1 million based on allegations that its predecessor, Lockheed Engineering Science Corporation, submitted false lease costs claims to NASA.

On August 31, 2006, Lockheed Martin won a $3.9 billion contract from NASA to design and build the CEV capsule, the next spacecraft for human flight for the Ares I rocket in the Constellation Program.

Lockheed Martin acquired the government business unit of Nantero, Inc., a company that had developed methods and processes for incorporating carbon nano tubes in next-generation electronic devices on August 13, 2008.

It is the world’s leading military contractor as well as the world’s largest arms exporter. Lockheed Martin built the U-2 and the SR-71 Blackbird spy planes. Today they make F-16, F/A-22 jet fighter, Hellfire and Javelin missiles, as well as design nuclear weapons. Its F-117 stealth attack fighters were used to ‘target’ Iraq at the start of the US invasion, while since the start of that war the Air Force has increased production of Lockheed’s PAC-3 Patriot missile – which cost $91 million each.

The company has also gained popularity among the common man after controversies regarding its lobbying were brought out. Lockheed Martin spent more than $9.8 million lobbying members of Congress and the Clinton administration, more than double the $4.2 million the company spent during 1999. The company is also accused to have made millions through insider trading, falsifying accounts, and bribing officials. Lockheed has also been able to exercise its influence in a larger way by supporting the invasion of Iraq. The company’s former vice-president Bruce Jackson chaired the Coalition for the Liberation of Iraq, a bipartisan group formed to promote Bush’s plan for war in Iraq. He was also involved in corralling the support for the war from Eastern European countries.

In 1976 Lockheed paid millions of dollars to Japanese government officials to smooth the way for the sale of Lockheed’s airplanes to a Japanese airline corporation called All Nippon Airways. They paid Japanese gangster Kodama Yoshio $2.1 million in payoffs to help them sell their new wide-bodied passenger airplane, the TriStar L1011, against stiff competition from Boeing and McDonnell-Douglas.

Lockheed Martin is the world’s second largest defense contractor by revenue as of 2008 and 70% of its revenues came from arms sales. Prior to this in 2005, 95% of Lockheed Martin’s revenues came from the United States Department of Defense, other U.S. federal government agencies, and foreign military customers.

The company has received the Collier Trophy twice – in 2001 for being part of developing the X-35/F35B Lift Fan Propulsion System and again in 2006 for leading the team that developed the F-22 Raptor fighter jet.

It employs about 136,000 people worldwide. Robert J. Stevens is the Chairman and CEO.  Your browser may not support display of this image.

The other key position holders in the company are: Christopher E. Kubasik, President and Chief Operating Officer, Bruce L. Tanner, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and Ralph D. Heath,Executive Vice President,Aeronautics.

Prominent women in the board are: Linda Gooden, Executive Vice President, Information Systems & Global Services, Marillyn A. Hewson, Executive Vice President, Electronic Systems and Joanne M. Maguire, Executive Vice President, Space Systems.

The following units are a part of the Lockheed Martin Corporation:

Aeronautics:

• Lockheed Martin Aeronautics
• Lockheed Martin Aircraft and Logistics Centers

Electronic Systems

• Lockheed Martin Canada
• Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Sensors
• Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control
• Lockheed Martin Simulation, Training and Support
• Lockheed Martin Systems Integration – Owego
• Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Laboratories
• Sandia Corporation

Information Systems and Global Services

• Lockheed Martin IS&GS-Civil
• Lockheed Martin IS&GS-Defense
• Lockheed Martin IS&GS-Security
• Lockheed Martin IS&GS-Global
• Lockheed Martin IS&GS Readiness & Stability Operations
• Lockheed Martin IS&GS Enterprise Integration
• Lockheed Martin Technology Ventures

Space

• Lockheed Martin Space Systems

The company also has entered into joint ventures with:

• International Launch Services (with Khrunichev, RSC Energia)
• Lockheed Martin Alenia Tactical Transport Systems (with Finmeccanica-Alenia, now folded)
• MEADS International with EADS and MBDA
• Space Imaging (46%, remainder public)
• United Launch Alliance (with Boeing)
• United Space Alliance (with Boeing)
• Kelly Aviation Center (with GE and Rolls-Royce)
• Protector USV – an unmanned surface vehicle with RAFAEL Armament Development Authority and BAE Systems
• Defense Support Services (DS2) with Day & Zimmermann

Other areas of business include:

• LMC Properties
• Lockheed Martin Aircraft Argentina SA (formerly Fabrica Militar de Aviones)
• Lockheed Martin Enterprise Business Services
• Lockheed Martin Finance Corporation
• Lockheed Martin U.K.

Lockheed Martin’s space system is involved in the design, integration, and production of:

• Satellites for commercial and military space
• Missile defense systems
• Strategic missile systems
• Orion, crew module for the NASA Constellation Program
• Space Shuttle External Tank

Lockheed Martin produced the first-ever hit-to-kill intercept of a ballistic missile target in 1984 with the Homing Overlay Experiment. Further enhancements produced today’s PAC-3 Missile, which won a competition in 1993 to become the first hit-to-kill interceptor produced by the U.S. government.
Recently on May 13, 2010 Lockheed Martin signed a 215 million dollar contract to build Vietnam’s second satellite.

Customer base: Concentrated on global security and information technology, majority of Lockheed Martin’s business is with the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. federal government agencies. It is the largest provider of IT services, systems integration, and training to the U.S. Government. The remaining portion of Lockheed Martin’s business is comprised of international government and some commercial sales of our products, services and platforms.

Lockheed Martin’s Aeronautics operating unit has approximately $12.2 billion sales in 2009 including tactical aircraft, airlift, and aeronautical research and development.

Systems Integration Lab
Lockheed Martin opened the first-ever A-10 Systems Integration Lab (SIL) in February 2004. The SIL duplicates the aircraft’s wiring and cabling infrastructure and is outfitted with actual weapons hardware, missile seekers, suspension racks and rocket launchers to emulate an A-10 aircraft on the flight line.

The Precision Engagement program has benefited significantly during systems development by allowing pilots and engineers to “fly and fix”; software and hardware updates in the SIL before aircraft installation and test.

Advanced Composite Cargo Aircraft
Lockheed Martin’s famed Advanced Development Programs known as Skunk Works, selected by the United States Air Force Research Laboratory build X-Planes with new materials and innovative designs like super lightweight and super strong composites.

The use of composites in aircraft manufacturing will create lighter, less expensive, and more durable aircraft with feasible maintenance costs. Once the Advanced Composite Cargo Aircraft is proven it will be applied to other next-generation aircraft including combat aircraft for vehicles being employed by U.S. and allied forces.

Missiles & missile defense
Lockheed Martin is also a global leader in the design, development and production of missiles and missile defense solutions for the United States and its allies. It aims to defend against attacks by ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and other airborne threats.

Lockheed Martin has a long history of providing its customers with affordable missile and missile systems. Lockheed Martin provides a wide variety of highly effective and reliable weapons systems including precision strike weapons with long standoff ranges, smart sub-munitions to give the war fighter maximum flexibility and guided munitions to dominate the battlefield.

Other Lockheed Martin systems include air-to-air missiles, helicopter launched anti-armor missiles to destroy enemy tanks and shatterproof vehicles; man-portable short-range anti-armor and assault weapons; kinetic energy hyper-velocity missiles that can defeat all armored threats, hit-to-kill air defense systems which protect the troops from ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, enemy aircraft and weapons of mass destruction. The missile capabilities include:

• Air-to-Air Missiles
• Anti-Armor Missiles
• Fire Support
• Precision Strike
• Strategic Systems

Lockheed Martin contributes to every U.S. land-based, airborne, sea- and space-based missile defense initiative; and consults on air and missile defense issues with U.S. and international governments.

The missile defense capabilities of Lockheed Martin include:

• Missile Defense
• Systems Integration
• Weapon Systems

They play a major role in:

• Interceptor Systems & Kill Vehicles
• Precision Pointing & Tracking Optics
• Radar & Other Sensors
• Boosters, Targets and Countermeasures
• Hit-to-Kill Technology
• Infrared Seekers
• Signal Processing & Data Fusion

Lockheed Martin is leading a national team to develop the Ballistic Missile Defense System’s Command, Control, Battle Management and Communication System, or C2/BM/C in the United States.

Battlefield Firing and Target Effects
Lockheed Martin produces a range of safe and economical battlefield effects devices. Variants have been delivered for the simulation of 25mm rapid cannon fire, automated fire-back from range targets, 106mm recoil-less rifle signature, and the launch motor from the TOW guided anti-tank missile.

A number of non-pyrotechnic techniques are employed to create the audible and visual signature of weapon fire or target hit.  Automated target hit simulators are offered, with minimal power requirements and multiple firing capacity where they offer a practical alternative to fire markers on tactical exercises.

Safety is ensured by using low-pressure combustion of very small amounts of propane, which is supplied in a small cartridge capable of producing 30 to 50 shots without reloading.  The products of this combustion are carbon dioxide and water in very small quantities with no burning particles, dangerous chemicals or fire hazard.

The features include:

• Safe propane firing effect
• Oil-based smoke effect
• Thirty shots minimum per charge of propane

Advanced Gunnery Training System (AGTS)
The Advanced Gunnery Training System (AGTS) is a state-of-the-art simulator designed by Lockheed Martin to train individuals, crews and platoons in the skills of precision gunnery. AGTS trains to a level of proficiency that permits rapid transition to live fire or combat gunnery. The system provides training on procedures, basic skills, crew coordination and crew drills. Section and platoon members practice target recognition, fire control and distribution while being engaged by targets.

The latest news about the achievements of Lockheed Martin is that it has signed a $3.9M Contract to Develop Advanced Rifle Scope for Soldiers. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has entered into a contract with Lockheed Martin of $3.93 million to develop a rifle-scope attachment to enhance soldiers’ marksmanship capabilities, which will enable soldiers to accurately view targets at varying distances without changing scopes or suffering a decrease in optical resolution.  The system will enhance soldiers’ ability to accurately hit targets at a range of between three and 600 meters.

The system automatically calculates the range with a low power laser rangefinder, digitally zooming on it and accounts for environmental conditions such as wind using sensors built into the scope. It then projects the bullet’s point-of-impact calculated from the embedded ballistics computer.

DInGO, the new system is based on Lockheed Martin’s One Shot Advanced Sighting System, which utilizes similar precision engagement technology automatically transmitting crosswind information to a long-range sniper’s scope and modifying the cross-hairs to display exactly where the bullet will strike.

DARPA had earlier awarded Lockheed Martin an 18-month, $9.7 million contract in 2008 to integrate One Shot’s new crosswind measurement technology into a prototype spotter scope.  During tactical field tests in December 2009, snipers were able to engage targets twice as quickly and increase their probability of a first-round hit by a factor of two using the One Shot technology at distances beyond 1,000 meters.

The nine-month Phase 1 contract, with options for additional phases, calls for Lockheed Martin to develop the DInGO system for use on the M-4 and M-16 automatic rifles.  Work will be performed at Lockheed Martin’s Ohio site, which has a strong track record for developing laser technology for ship and airborne infrared countermeasures, communications, wind correction and active sensing.

Lockheed Martin has shown appreciation to customers through United in Gratitude initiative, which provides support that improves the quality of lives and honors sacrifices. It also extends support for the vital work of its National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) customers through activities that recognize their achievements and also sponsors educational initiatives; helping produce the next generation of astronauts, engineers and scientists. Various initiatives taken by the company include:

• Lockheed Martin in Northern Virginia held collection drives that produced 10 pallets of items for troops who set sail early last year for the Persian Gulf on the USS Wasp aircraft carrier.
• Lockheed Martin in Dallas sends cards to soldiers and is part of a USO effort that welcomes arriving troops at Dallas-Fort Worth airport as they deplane.
• Lockheed Martin in Houston recognized employees in the military and employees’ sons and daughters serving overseas with a photo display.
• Lockheed Martin in San Diego provides free admission to major sporting events and parties for military personnel in the region.
• Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth, Texas, supports an annual barbecue in honor of military personnel serving at the Naval Air Station-Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base.

Author: Pratik Sawerdekar

Plan to develop attack helicopter was finalized in October 2006 after the design concept developed by HAL was approved by the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force. Need for a modern attack helicopter platform was felt by the Indian military during late 90s when its attack helicopter fleet comprising of some 80 Russian Mi-24s and Mi-35s proved to be useless at high altitude and lacked sophistication needed by complex modern wars. It was decided to develop an attack helicopter which could fulfill the unique and different needs of the Army and the Air force.
LCH was designed out of HAL’s highly successful multi-role utility helicopter “Dhruv”. Dhruv first entered service in 2002 and since have carried out its duties in a very successful manner. Dhruv is also being exported to many countries. Developing LCH from Dhruv saved HAL preciously needed time. So far the IAF has placed an order of 65 LCH’s and the Army has placed an order of 114. According to estimates the LCH should receive its Final operational clearance by 2013 after which it will enter service.
LCH was designed with stealth in mind and hence it has a narrow fuselage and flat panels and some other stealthy features. Pilot seating is in tandem configuration because of the narrow fuselage. It has an armor designed to withstand an attack from a 12.7mm bullet. It also has crashworthy cockpit to protect the pilots, this feature has been taken from Dhruv’s design. LCH is expected to perform multiple roles like Air defense against UAV’s, attack operations against enemy air defenses, escort for other helicopters, counter offensive against ground forces on both conventional and urban battlefield, counter insurgence, combat search and rescue operations, anti-tank role and scout duties in all weather conditions and in day or night. It will also function at high altitude areas of Jammu and Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh. LCH is also capable in Nuclear-Chemical and Biological scenarios.
LCH’s advance avionics will feature a full glass cockpit and helmet mounted sight and display. LCH also features an advance electronic warfare suit (EWS) and Directional Infrared counter measures (DIRCM) for self-protection. LCH has data link capability hence it can communicate with other assets. Other common features like fuel consumption display, Infrared and flame suppressor, digital video recorder, etc will also be incorporated into the aircraft.
Multiple weapons will be carried by the LCH like rockets, air to air missile, air to surface missiles, cluster bombs, anti-radiating missile and turret gun developed by Nexter of France. It can take off from an altitude of 10,000 feet, operate weapons up to 16,300 feet, and engage targets like UAVs that are flying at altitudes of up to 21,300 feet. LCH is capable of carrying more than 2000 kgs of armament. Max takeoff weight of the LCH is around 5.5 to 5.8 tones; its top speed is 275 kms and range of 550 kms. Service ceiling of LCH has been extended to 6.5 kms. Once service ready the LCH is expected by the HAL to be one of the best attack helicopters in the world, this is crucial as the Indian forces have fallen behind the Pakistani’s and Chinese who have advance attack helicopters.

Author: Pratik Sawerdekar