Centre signs Rs 62,700 Cr deal with HAL for 156 LCH

Context

• The Defence Ministry on Friday signed two contracts with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) to buy 156 indigenous Light Combat Helicopters (LCH) and training and associated equipment for a total of over ₹62,700 crore, excluding taxes.

• The Army will get 90 of the helicopters, while the remaining 66 are meant for the Air Force. The contracts were signed soon after the deal got final sanction from the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS).

• “The supply of these helicopters shall commence from the third year and will be spread over the next five years. The contracts will enhance the combat capability of Armed Forces at high altitudes,” a Defence Ministry statement said

Light Combat Helicopter (LCH)

• This is India’s first indigenously designed and developed combat helicopter designed to operate at an altitude of over 5,000 metres.

• The helicopter has a large number of components designed and manufactured in India and it is planned to achieve an overall indigenous content of over 65% during the execution of this procurement, the Ministry said.

• “This will involve over 250 domestic companies mostly MSMEs and will generate over 8,500 direct & indirect jobs.”

• The LCH is the ONLY attack helicopter in the world which can land and take off at an altitude of 5,000 meters with a considerable load of weapons and fuel.

• The helicopter uses radar-absorbing material to lower radar signature and has a significantly crash-proof structure and landing gear.

• A pressurised cabin offers protection from nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) contingencies.

• The helicopter is equipped with a countermeasure dispensing system that protects it from enemy radars or infrared seekers of the enemy missiles.

• LCH is powered by two French-origin Shakti engines manufactured by the HAL

Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS)

• It is headed by the Prime Minister.

• The Committee discusses, debates, and is the apex body when it comes to the appointments of the officials in the national security bodies.

• It also makes all the important decisions on defence policy and expenditure and, generally, all matters of India’s security.

• Members: PM, Ministers of Defence, Home Affairs, Finance and External Affairs.

• Cabinet Committees are extra-constitutional, meaning, they are not mentioned in the Indian Constitution.

• They are partly designed to reduce the burden on the Union Cabinet by allowing smaller groups of ministers to make decisions on specific policy areas.

• They are constituted or reconstituted when a new government takes over or the Cabinet undergoes a reshuffle.

There are a total of 8 cabinet committees:

• Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs.

• Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs.

• Cabinet Committee on Investment and Growth.

• Cabinet Committee on Security.

• Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs.

• Cabinet Committee on Employment and Skill Development.

• Cabinet Committee on Accommodation.

• Appointments Committee of the Cabinet