Army chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi visits HAL, takes sortie in LCH Prachand

New Delhi: Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi on Wednesday visited state-run defence major Hindustan Aeronautics Limited in Bengaluru, and also took a maiden sortie in Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Prachand, officials said.

At Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), he reviewed the ongoing Army Aviation projects and took stock of indigenous aerospace capabilities being developed there.

During his visit, the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) also undertook a sortie in an LCH Prachand, gaining first-hand experience of its superior performance and combat capabilities, the Army said.


Gen Dwivedi undertook the sortie along with a pilot.

"The sortie served as a clear affirmation of the platform's operational effectiveness and its critical role in delivering decisive aerial firepower in the tactical battlefield, while also reinforcing the Indian Army's continued push towards Aatmanirbharta in defence," a senior official said.

In a post on X, the Army also shared some photos of Gen Dwivedi's visit and the "maiden sortie".

The contemporary battlespace is increasingly dominated by drones, loitering munitions, unmanned aerial systems and counter-drone systems, extending the battlespace beyond the ground into the low-altitude airspace above key battle areas, the officials said.

"This has brought the air littoral into sharp operational focus. Recent conflicts have underscored that dominance in this zone directly influences the tempo, survivability and outcomes of land battles, necessitating rapid, localised control and response by ground forces," the official said.

It is in this context that LCH Prachand assumes significance.

"Agile, precise and optimised to operate in all types of terrains, Prachand provides the Indian Army with a dedicated platform to play a decisive role in the increasingly contested lower airspace," the official added.

India's first indigenously designed attack helicopter, LCH Prachand has been specifically built for high-altitude warfare and can operate effectively in rarefied conditions exceeding 6,000 m.

Its advanced avionics, precision weapons and survivability features make it ideally suited for roles such as close air support, anti-armour missions and armed reconnaissance.

The Army chief's sortie thus reflects a broader transformation -- where "indigenous capability, leadership intent and evolving doctrine converge to position the Indian Army as a key force in shaping outcomes in the air littoral battlespace," the Army said.

The visit of the COAS also served as a strong endorsement of indigenous capability and operational readiness in the armed forces, the officials said.

Key platforms such as the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv, Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Prachand, along with the upgrade, maintenance and production ecosystems supporting the Army Aviation, were showcased, highlighting India's growing strength in this critical domain.