HAL completes hot and high-altitude trials of LCH at Leh

State-run aircraft maker HAL today said it has successfully carried out the hot and high-altitude trials of indigenously developed Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), which also landed at Forward Landing Base in Siachen becoming the first attack chopper to do so.
These seasonal trials - including cold weather trials carried out at Leh during February this year - have been completed as part of the certification process, a statement by the HAL said.
The flight trials at Leh have established hover performance and low speed handling characteristics of the helicopter under extreme weather conditions at different altitudes (3200 to 4800 metres), it said

During the trials, the helicopter and systems performed satisfactorily, it said.
"LCH also has proven its capability to land and take off at Forward Landing Base in Siachen. LCH is the first attack helicopter to land in Forward Bases at Siachen", T Suvarna Raju, CMD, HAL said.
The trials were carried out at the temperatures ranging from 13 to 27 degree centigrade with the participation of user pilots from Air Force, Army among others.
Various tests included assessment and validation of flight envelope in 'Hot-and-High' conditions, culminating in landing at forward bases at geographic elevations of 13,600 feet to 15,800 feet.

These landings and take-offs were demonstrated with reasonable amount of weapon load and fuel, it said.