'Prachanda'... Vinit Vartak ©

 'Prachanda'... Vinit Vartak ©

The borders enjoyed by India have always been in very rugged areas. India has been facing a big challenge for the past 75 years to protect India's borders when there are enemies who are constantly fighting on both sides. For this, India has to bear the cost of constantly updating its defense system. Import of defense products is the biggest corruption avenue that political leaders and parties have found in the past several years. The spread of brokers in billions of rupees deals. It was necessary to take some steps to curb the lobbying and the cream of the crop by Das Ka Bees. The only answer to all this is to build defense weapons on India's own strength without reducing anywhere in its defense preparedness. As the saying goes, 'Na Rahega Bas Na Bajegi Basuri', the only answer to root out corruption is to make India self-reliant in terms of defense products. After the change of government in 2014, effective steps were taken in terms of self-reliance with special attention on self-reliance. A fruit of the same steps is 'prachanda'.

The Kargil War of 1999 exposed several aspects of India's defense prowess. Even though India won this war, the crumbling towers of India made us aware of where we are falling short in many places. In the Kargil War, the limitations of helicopters in the Indian Army's fleet were exposed to identify the enemy hiding on the high mountain tops or to deliver its soldiers or ammunition, rescue operations. The Russian and French made helicopters that India had were not capable of flying at altitudes of 15000-16000 feet. India's border is surrounded by the towering Himalayan mountain range. India has the highest battlefield in the world. The height of which is around 21000-24000 feet. Then in such a situation, India needed helicopters that could fly to high places to keep the enemy at bay. Then India's DRDO. He was given the responsibility of researching a helicopter that can fly at such a height.

DRDO and H.A.L. After nearly two decades of research, the 'Prachanda' i.e. Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) has been produced. Prachanda has many stealth features, armored-protection system, night attack capability and crash-worthy landing gear. It can be used in combat search and rescue (CSAR) operations, destruction of enemy air defenses (DEAD) and counter-insurgency operations. The massive helicopter can be deployed in high-altitude bunker-busting operations, counter-insurgency operations in jungle and urban environments, in addition to playing a supporting role for ground forces. It can also be used against slow moving aircraft and enemy remotely piloted aircraft.

The 'Prachanda' helicopter is equipped with Helina or Nag anti-tank guided missiles, which can destroy tanks and armored vehicles from the air. It can evade enemy radars using stealth technology. Prachanda is equipped with laser technology and can destroy any target at a distance of 8 km. The difference is that 'Prachanda' can cover a distance of up to 550 km in one flight. The massive helicopter is made of crashproof material. Its cabin can withstand any nuclear, biological or chemical weapons attack. This helicopter is equipped with two power engines, which have been developed in cooperation with the French government.

Prachanda is the world's only light attack helicopter, which can fly and land at an altitude of 5000 meters. Neither China nor Pakistan have light attack helicopters that can fly high. Their helicopters can only fly up to 12,000 feet, but the Prachanda helicopter can easily fly up to 21,000 feet. That is why India has kept China and Pakistan under control. The Government of India has recently placed an order for 15 indigenous developed light combat helicopters at a cost of Rs 3887 crore. Ten of these helicopters will be for the Indian Air Force, while five will be for the Indian Army. 

A research organization in any technology needs financial support. If the research you produce is going to be used, it can be worked on with vigor. In India for the past 70 years, Indian defense products have been sidelined in a way. The main reason for this is the revenue from its contract if the equipment is ordered from abroad. That's why DRDO is systematically from top to bottom. With one or two exceptions, the output from the same organization was discarded. But what can we do when political will and support is taken for granted? Similar institutions have shown. Helicopters like Dhruva, Rudra, BrahMos, Tejas increasing dominance in the global market, Pinaka rocket system, Astra, Agni Prime missile are many examples today. That is why India is standing on its own in the field of defense today. Today, even in the background of Ukraine-Russia war, India is not affected by it. Whatever agreements India has with other countries like the Rafale deal, these agreements are government to government deals. From which the brokers have in a way received a dutch.

The arrival of Prachanda has definitely added a great deal to the strength of the Indian Army and Indian Air Force. Most importantly, we have taken another step towards self-reliance. It has been emphasized that maximum things from spare parts to manufacturing of this helicopter will be indigenous.My heartiest salute to the anonymous engineers, researchers, workers, professionals and small manufacturing organizations who contributed to the creation of Prachanda. I have no doubt that Prachanda will make a valuable contribution to protecting India's borders.

Jai Hind!!!

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