LCH 3 variant makes first flight

The Light Combat Helicopter's third trial aircraft, LCH TD-3, made its first flight on Wednesday, marking a new milestone in the development of an indigenous attack helicopter that can fight in the country's treacherous and mountainous fronts of the North and East.

The twin-seater Technology Demonstrator-3 took off at 3.20 p.m. from the helipad of the Helicopter Division of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd and flew for 20 minutes. A Dhruv helicopter, also created by HAL, escorted it.

R.K.Tyagi, Chairman of HAL - which is designing and developing the 5.8-tonne copter for around six years, said, "The entire flight was flawless. We are making all efforts to achieve IOC (initial operational certification) by September next year. It will be an effective weapon platform to deliver precision strikes at high altitude."

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