New Rotors For IAF, Indian Army: HAL Completes Hot And High-Altitude Trials For Light Utility Helicopter

State-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited's (HAL) indigenously developed Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) has successfully completed the hot weather and high-altitude trials, the defence PSU said in a statement on Wednesday (9 September).

"HAL's indigenously developed Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) demonstrated high altitude capability in hot and high weather conditions in the Himalayas recently for about 10 days," the statement said.

"A comprehensive test plan was executed at Leh (3300 MAMSL) in temperatures up to ISA +32°C which included envelope expansion, performance and flying qualities," it added.

The LUH took off from Leh and demonstrated its hot and high hover performance at Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO) advance landing ground at an altitude of 5,000 m.

The helicopter also demonstrated its payload capability in Siachen Glacier high altitude, it said adding that during the trials the pilot landed the LUH at the highest helipads of Amar and Sonam.

Commenting on the development, R Madhavan, the managing director of HAL, said that the Army version of the LUH is now ready for the initial operational clearance (IOC).

The LUH, a 3-tonne class highly agile new generation light helicopter, is to be built for the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force to replace the aging fleet of Cheetah and Chetak helicopters.