INDIAN ATTACK HELICOPTERS TO BE ARMED WITH AIR TO AIR MISSILES

The indigenous attack helicopters HAL RUDRA & HAL LCH (link) of Indian airforce and army will now be getting more teeth as there are plans to arm them with Air to Air missile. 

Till now these attack helicopters were suitable only for ground attack and tank destroyer roles as they were armed with front turret guns and rockets only as the helicopter launched NAG ANTI TANK MISSILE - HELINA is under development and so the effectiveness of these attack helicopter were limited.



But seeing the changing scenarios of modern battlefield now MOD has decided to add more teeth to these attack helicopters by equipping them with Air to Air missiles which will allow them to engage a wider band of threats like enemy helicopters and drones etc.

A total of 78 HAL Rudra have been ordered and a fixed order of about 179 HAL LCH is placed, which is expected to grow in future.

It is being reported that the planned air to air missile which will be integrated on these attack helicopter so is MBDA Mistral which is a short range air to air missiles and is a very capable missile.

Also till the HELINA is under development there are plans to buy and integrate a foreign anti tank missile to the attack helicopter fleet. These missiles will be bought in small number and will act as a plug gap measure until the real deal HELINA is ready for production.




With HAL LCH entering full production (link)& about 28 out of 78 (IAAC number)HAL Rudra already in service, the integration of the air to air missiles is expected to commence shortly with the live firing expected by the year's end.

Overall it's a very good decision as it increases the efficiency as well as makes the attack helicopter fleet more versatile. Now attack helicopters wont be sitting ducks for the air borne adversaries (the turret can attack airborne targets but is not very effective). In modern warfare where u are unaware of what adversary you will be facing next, it is always good to be prepared.

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