New Delhi, Nov 20: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is looking forward to producing around 30 Light Combat Helicopters (LCH) per annum.

LCH is a dedicated combat helicopter and is designed and developed indigenously for the first time in India.

A. R. Madhvan, Chairman HAL, said that they are looking at a total order of 150 LCHs and can provide the 15 already ordered by Air Force within a year.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday handed over HAL produced indigenous LCH to the Indian Air Force (IAF) during the ‘Rashtriya Raksha Samarpan Parv’ celebrations to mark the 75th year of India’s independence, held at Jhansi from November 17 to 19.

The company has got an order to manufacture 73 Mark 1-A, the new variant of the Tejas which will be more potent and effective than the previous Mark 1.

It is an addition to the 123 Mark 1 Tejas.

Madhvan said that Mark 1 A will fly the first prototype by the middle of next year.

“By March 2024 the first aircraft will be delivered,” he said.

LCH is the only Attack Helicopter in the world which can land and take-off at an altitude of 5000 m (16400 ft) with considerable load of weapons and fuel meeting the specific requirements of Indian Armed Forces.