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HAL Light Utility Helicopter

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Light Utility Helicopter (LUH)
Role Utility helicopter
National origin India
Manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
Status Under development
Primary users Indian Army
Indian Airforce

The HAL Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) and its derivative HAL Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) is a single-engine light helicopter under development by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited of India. The 3-tonne helicopter for the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force will replace the fleet of Cheetah and Chetak helicopters. The project is in preliminary stages.[1] The Indian military have a requirement for 384 helicopters of which 187 helicopters will be built by HAL. The first flight was expected in 2015. Production is planned to begin in 2018 at 10 per year, later on going up to 36 per year and delivery of 187 HAL’s LUHs is to be completed by 2022.[2]

As of 3 November 2012, the bottom structure assembly of the LUH ground test vehicle is complete and has been taken down from the jig last month. According to HAL, "LUH assembly jigs are modular and gaugeless jigs, concurrently designed along with structure design using 3D CAD. There are five assembly jigs and a coupling jig enabling modular and concurrent build- up of the structure. The jigs are built and validated using state-of-the-art CAMS-Computer Aided Measurement System (laser tracker) to establish high accuracy and stability.[3]

Specifications

Data from [4][5] HAL[6]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2
  • Capacity: up to 6 passengers
  • Empty weight: 1,675 kg (3,693 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 2,700 kg (5,952 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × HAL/Turbomeca Shakti 1U turboshaft engine, 1,272 kW (1,706 hp)

Performance

  • Cruise speed: 220 km/h (140 mph, 120 kn)
  • Never exceed speed: 250 km/h (160 mph, 130 kn)
  • Range: 350 km (220 mi, 190 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 6,500 m (21,300 ft)
  • Rate of climb: 7.5 m/s (1,480 ft/min)
  • Fuel consumption: 0.69 kg/km (2.4 lb/mi)
  • Thrust/weight: 5.6

References

  1. ^ HAL looks at foreign partners for chopper project
  2. ^ Army Aviation's Helicopter Deal Awaited - SP's Land Forces
  3. ^ LUH bottom structure assembly completed - SP's Land Forces
  4. ^ [] "Turbomeca V2". Retrieved 2012-01-17.
  5. ^ "LOH page on Livefist". Retrieved 2010-05-24.
  6. ^ http://www.hal-india.com/Product_Details.aspx?Mkey=54&lKey=&CKey=64
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