HAL Prachand

what is it?

The HAL Prachand (lit. 'Fierce/Intense') is an Indian multi-role light attack helicopter designed and manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) under Project Light Combat Helicopter (LCH). It has been ordered by the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Indian Army's Aviation Corps (AAC). On 3 October 2022, the LCH was formally inducted into the IAF and was officially named "Prachand".

🔎How to recognise it: 2 turboshaft engines · 13.2 m main rotor

base stats

• speed 280 km/htop speed
• size 5,800 kgmax take-off weight
• built 19made in total

Bars compare against all aircraft: 3,500 km/h, 20,000 km, 850 seats; size and number built on a log scale up to 640 t (An-225) and 45,000 built (Cessna 172).

fun facts

• 🎂First flew 16 years ago, in 2010.
• 🏎️Top speed is 2.2× a car on the Dutch motorway (130 km/h).

turboshaft: A turbine that turns a shaft, usually a helicopter rotor.

spec sheet

first flight

2010-03-29

introduced

2022

status

still flying

number built

19

role

attack helicopter

origin

🇮🇳 India

makers

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited

engines

2× HAL/Turbomeca Shakti-1H1

crew

2

length

15.8 m

wingspan

4.6 m

rotor diameter

13.2 m

height

4.7 m

max take-off weight

5,800 kg

top speed

280 km/h

range

—

ceiling

6,500 m

Specs are for the version in the Wikipedia article's specification section. Blank means the sources don't say.