Chetak, Cheetah Replacement: Still Hovering After Two Decades

 

LUH on display at DefExpo 2020

On May 20, 2026, an Indian Army (IA) Cheetah helicopter crashed in the Tangste (Tangtse) region near Leh in Ladakh during a routine high-altitude sortie.

The helicopter was carrying three IA officers — two pilots and passenger Major General Sachin Mehta, General Officer Commanding of the 3 Infantry Division.

All three survived with minor injuries. They walked away from the wreckage in high spirits, as was evident from a selfie posted by them on social media that went viral.

Ageing Chetak, Cheetah Helicopter Fleet

The crash drew attention to the IA's ageing fleet of around 350 Cheetah and Chetak helicopters. For over two decades, the IA has been seeking replacement of the 1960s-vintage French helicopters manufactured in India by HAL.

In 2010, HAL, based on its experience and learning from manufacturing the Cheetah and Chetak helicopters, as well as from developing the Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter, announced that it would develop a Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) to replace the Cheetah and Chetak helicopters.

On a parallel track, Indian PM Narendra Modi, during his visit to Russia in December 2014 for the annual summit meeting, signed an agreement to jointly manufacture Kamov Ka-226T light utility helicopters in India at HAL.

As per the agreement, India and Russia were to produce at least 200 Ka-226T helicopters for the Indian Armed Forces, with additional units potentially manufactured for civilian use and export.

The LUH is a 3-tonne, single-engine light utility helicopter. Powered by the Safran HE Ardiden-1U engine, rated at 750 kW, the LUH has a maximum AUW of 3,150 kg. It is capable of flying at 220 kph, with a service ceiling of 6.5 km and a range of 350 km with a 400 kg payload. It can seat six — a crew of two and four passengers.

The Ka-226 is a slightly larger 3.6-tonne, twin-engine, multi-role light helicopter with coaxial contra-rotating rotors (no tail rotor). It is capable of flying at 220 kph, with a service ceiling of 6.5 km and a range of 600 km. It has a crew of one to two and can seat six to seven passengers.

LUH Hot & High Altitude Trials September 2020

LUH Program Status

The programs to replace IA Chetak and Cheetah helicopters with the LUH and Ka-226 helicopters are both woefully behind schedule.

The LUH program has been delayed by technical challenges, supply-chain issues, and certification problems. Technical challenges include main rotor blade refinements and noise/vibration issues. The imported Automatic Flight Control System (autopilot) from Safran faced supply disruptions during COVID and integration problems. There has also been scope creep, with the Army adding advanced autopilot requirements that were not part of the original specifications.

Nine of the 12 Limited Series Production units had been built but remained undelivered as of May 2026.

Certification, which was targeted for late 2025, will likely slip to late 2026.

Ka-226 Program Status

The Ka-226 program failed to make headway due to disagreements over local production costs, technology transfer issues, and Russia's inability to meet 70% indigenous content targets because the aircraft was powered by French engines.

In January 2022, the Defence Procurement Board (DPB) reviewed the Ka-226T manufacturing project as part of India's efforts to reduce dependence on foreign defence equipment. Following the review, the project stalled, likely due to two key factors:

1. Development of the Light Utility Helicopter (LUH): The DPB considered HAL’s indigenous LUH program a viable alternative. The LUH, a 3-tonne-class helicopter, was being developed to meet both military and civilian requirements.

2. Restricted Access to French Engines: At the time of contract signing in 2015, the Ka-226T was powered by French Arrius 2G1 engines. However, following geopolitical tensions, France denied Russia access to the engine. Consequently, Russia could not meet its obligations to fully support Ka-226T manufacture in India as the OEM.

Russian Import Substitution Alters the Landscape

Meanwhile, Russia continued to develop the Ka-226T to fulfil Indian requirements.

Following Russia's estrangement from France, the UEC-Klimov enterprise announced in 2019 the development of a new VK-650V gas-turbine turboshaft engine with a takeoff power of 650 hp.

The VK-650V is intended to replace the French powerplant on Russian Ka-226T and Ansat helicopters. According to UEC, variants of the VK-650V could also be adapted to power drones and hybrid propulsion systems for aircraft.

In June 2024, UEC delivered the first prototype VK-650V engines for flight tests on an Ansat helicopter.

On February 7, a Rostec press release stated that UEC “has received type certification for the VK-650V turboshaft engine, designed for light helicopters. The VK-650V is now ready for serial production and operational deployment.”

On May 22, 2026, a prototype Ka-226T helicopter equipped with two new Russian VK-650V turboshaft engines completed its first full-fledged circular flight in Tomilino near Moscow.

Potential Ka-226T Revival with the VK-650V Engine

The certification of the VK-650V engine could potentially revive the stalled project to manufacture Ka-226T helicopters in India.

Since contract negotiations were suspended, Russia has replaced many foreign components on the Ka-226T with locally manufactured ones. At the time of contract signing, only 72% of the components were of Russian origin. As a result, Indo-Russian Helicopters can now begin production of the Ka-226T with a higher level of indigenous content than before.

HAL is significantly behind schedule in delivering an LUH conforming to the requirements of the Indian Armed Forces. Keeping in mind the large number of light helicopters due for replacement, it could be over a decade before the Chetaks and Cheetahs are finally phased out.

In any case, there is market potential for two locally manufactured helicopters targeting the Armed Forces, paramilitary forces, law-enforcement agencies, the civil sector, and exports.

Relying solely on HAL’s LUH program is a high-risk strategy, given HAL’s uncertain delivery timeline.

Both the LUH and Ka-226T programs conform to the Make-in-India paradigm. The indigenous content and level of technology transfer (ToT) absorption for both the LUH and the Ka-226T are expected to be similar.

If the Russians were to agree to limited or complete manufacturing ToT for the VK-650V engine, India would gain much more than a helicopter engine, keeping in mind the possible use of the engine as a drone powerplant.

Copyright © Vijainder K Thakur. First published on Thumkar.

Closing the Apache Chapter: Indian Army Bets on Prachand LCH

 

On December 15, 2025, The Times of India reported that the IA is set to receive the last three AH-64E Apache helicopters on order from Boeing Aerospace.

Three of the six AH-64E helicopters ordered by the IA arrived at Hindon Air Base on July 22, 2025. It was then reported that the remaining three helicopters would be delivered by November 2025.

The Indian MoD ordered six AH-64E helicopters from Boeing under an $800 million deal signed in February 2020, during the visit of former US President Donald Trump to India.

At the time of contract signing, Boeing had committed to deliver all six helicopters by February 2024.

IAF AH-64E Procurement

The IAF earlier acquired 22 AH-64E helicopters from Boeing under a $3 billion contract, which also included the supply of 15 CH-47F Chinook helicopters.

The IAF reportedly received the last batch of the 22 AH-64E helicopters it ordered in July 2020.

IA Forgoes Additional AH-64E Procurement

In early 2014, the Army received “in-principle” approval for “ownership” of 39 Apache AH-64 gunships to equip its “strike” formations. However, no additional orders have been placed beyond the six helicopters ordered. The Army now appears committed to expanding its fleet with indigenous options, such as the 5.8-ton, twin-engined Prachand Light Combat Helicopter (LCH).

The Prachand is powered by two Shakti engines and inherits many technical features of the Advanced Light Helicopter. Features unique to the LCH include a sleek and narrow fuselage, tricycle crashworthy landing gear, crashworthy and self-sealing fuel tanks, armour protection, and nuclear and low-visibility features, which make the LCH lethal, agile, and survivable.

The Prachand outperforms the AH-64E in its ability to operate at altitudes above 5,000 m, which is a critical requirement for Himalayan deployments. The programme targets over 65% indigenous content, involving over 250 domestic companies.

Prachand LCH

Indigenously developed weapon systems can more effectively address threat perspective–driven qualitative requirements (QRs). India’s requirement for a combat helicopter honed for high-altitude operations is unique. India’s disputed borders run through mountainous terrain. The Indian Army and Air Force need a combat helicopter that can fly at high altitudes with the agility to safely negotiate tight airspaces between mountains, allowing pilots to find and engage targets with ease.

MoD’s Unprecedented Large-Volume Order

The Indian MoD, on March 28, 2025, signed two contracts with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the supply of 156 Prachand helicopters, along with training and other associated equipment, worth ₹62,700 crore. The first contract is for the supply of 66 LCHs to the Indian Air Force (IAF), and the second is for the supply of 90 LCHs to the Indian Army.

Deliveries will begin in the third year (2027–28) and continue over five years, with HAL producing about 30 helicopters annually from its Bengaluru and Tumkur facilities.

The new order will add to the 15 LSP variants of the helicopter (10 IAF and five Army) already inducted under a ₹3,887 crore contract inked in 2022. HAL completed delivery of the 15 LSP helicopters in early August 2023.

Prachand Capabilities

The Prachand is a low-observable (LO) design with reduced visual, aural, radar, and infrared (IR) signatures. It features canted panels for a lower radar cross-section and an IR suppressor for reduced IR signature.

The helicopter has a maximum speed of 275 kmph (148 kt), a combat radius of 500 km, and is capable of high-altitude warfare with an operational ceiling of 16,000 to 18,000 feet.

Prachand’s stub wings/armament booms have four weapon attachment stations, two on each side. Each station can carry ATGMs, rockets, or air-to-air missiles.

The helicopter has fixed armour plating on the sides and crashworthy landing gear for improved survivability.

Prachand Sensors

The Prachand is equipped with an electro-optical pod consisting of a CCD camera, FLIR, laser range finder (LRF), and laser designator (LD), giving the attack helicopter the ability to detect and acquire targets day or night.

It is not known whether an AESA radar is proposed for development for the LCH. Weight constraints might rule out this option, in which case the Prachand’s ability to carry long-range missiles may be severely constrained.

Prachand Communication Suite

Not much is known about Prachand’s communication suite in the public domain. A modern combat helicopter needs high-bandwidth communications, with support for direct connectivity with UAVs.

It is unlikely that the Prachand currently has a high-bandwidth communication suite adapted to operate within a battlefield command-and-control system. If that is indeed the case, an improved communication suite would be a priority item on HAL’s Prachand to-do list.

Weapon Systems

The Prachand will be equipped with the indigenously developed Helina surface-to-air missile, which can engage targets at ranges between 500 m and 7 km.

Helina features a 640 × 512 px FPA (focal plane array) imaging infrared (IIR) seeker. As a result, the Helina seeker can image the target—not just detect it—giving the missile the ability to recognise the target and ignore other heat sources in its vicinity.

Helina always uses LOBL (lock-on before launch) tracking, making it a “fire-and-forget” missile. Once the electro-optic (EO) system of the ALH identifies the target, it automatically hands it over to the missile.

Reposing Confidence in HAL’s Ability to Deliver

A single order volume of 156 helicopters is unprecedented for attack helicopters. By comparison, the Russian MoD’s last order for the combat-proven Ka-52M was for 114 helicopters.

The MoD’s large order is likely aimed at addressing concerns that, in the past, HAL has not been able to meet weapon system delivery timelines because the MoD did not place orders in time or for adequate volumes. Clearly, this time the MoD has reposed considerable faith in HAL’s ability to deliver.

Conclusion

The Prachand could well become an HAL success story, as it is derived from the Dhruv ALH, which entered operational service in 2002 and has accumulated approximately 450,000 flight hours.

The IA and MoD have placed a large order for the helicopter and given HAL more than two years to commence deliveries. It is almost certain that if HAL and DRDO deliver on the promise of the Prachand, there will be further orders for more advanced variants.

Copyright © Vijainder K Thakur. First published on Thumkar.