SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
In a significant boost to India’s indigenous defence capabilities, the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Prachand, recently greenlit by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) for the procurement of 156 units, will be equipped with an advanced Electronic Warfare Suite (EWS) developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
This move departs from the earlier reliance on foreign systems like Saab’s Integrated Defence Aids Suite (IDAS), which was first integrated into the Indian Army and Air Force variants of the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv in 2005.
On March 28, 2025, the CCS, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved a Rs 62,700 crore deal between the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for 156 LCH Prachand helicopters—90 for the Indian Army and 66 for the Indian Air Force. Designed for high-altitude warfare, the LCH is a 5.8-tonne-class attack helicopter optimized for operations in rugged terrains like the Himalayas, with deliveries set to begin in mid-2028 from HAL’s Tumkur facility. The inclusion of a DRDO-developed EWS in this fleet enhances the helicopter’s survivability and aligns with India’s goal of reducing dependence on imported subsystems.
An Electronic Warfare Suite is a critical defensive system for modern combat helicopters, protecting them from a range of threats, including radar-guided missiles, infrared (IR) seekers, and laser-guided weapons. The suite typically includes radar warning receivers (RWR), missile approach warning systems (MAWS), laser warning receivers (LWR), and countermeasures like chaff and flare dispensers. For the LCH, operating in contested environments along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) or Line of Control (LoC), such a system is indispensable to evade enemy air defences and ensure mission success.
Historically, the Indian armed forces relied on Saab’s IDAS for the ALH Dhruv, a system integrated in 2005 to enhance its survivability during combat and peacekeeping missions. IDAS, a lightweight suite from the Swedish defence giant, offered robust protection against missile threats, with components like the RWR and MAWS proving effective in operational trials. However, its foreign origin meant higher costs, supply chain dependencies, and limited scope for customization—factors that prompted DRDO to develop an indigenous alternative.
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