The Vice Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal PK Barbora was rightfully exultant when he stated that “the Tiger Bird had good export potential” even as it was being developed as a weapon system “dedicated to the nation”. This was at the HAL Airport in Bangalore on 23 May 2010, two months after the LCH’s maiden flight on 29 March (see Vayu II/2010 and III/2010). Tiger Bird is an appropriate name and perhaps inspired from the design painted on the prototype.

The LCH is being developed as a dedicated attack helicopter derived from the Advanced Light Helicopter and fitted with weapons and special mission systems and having a crashworthy wheel landing gear. Maiden flight of the LCH marked successful culmination of three years of design and development efforts by Rotary Wing Research and Design Centre (RWRDC) of the Helicopter Complex. A full fledged qualification test programme will follow leading to initial operation clearance (IOC) by December 2011 and induction into India’s armed forces.

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