New Delhi, April 8 Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi visited the state-run defence major Hindustan Aeronautics Limited in Bengaluru on Wednesday, and also took a maiden flight in the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Prachand, officials said.
At Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), he reviewed the ongoing Army Aviation projects and assessed the indigenous aerospace capabilities being developed there.
During his visit, the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) also undertook a flight in the LCH Prachand, gaining firsthand experience of its superior performance and combat capabilities, the Army said.
Gen Dwivedi undertook the flight along with a pilot.
"The flight served as a clear affirmation of the platform's operational effectiveness and its critical role in delivering decisive aerial firepower on the battlefield, while also reinforcing the Indian Army's continued push towards self-reliance in defence," a senior official said.
The Army also shared some photos of Gen Dwivedi's visit and the "first flight" on X.
The contemporary battlespace is increasingly dominated by drones, loitering munitions, unmanned aerial systems, and counter-drone systems, extending the battlespace beyond the ground into the low-altitude airspace above key battle areas, the officials said.
"This has brought the air littoral into sharp operational focus. Recent conflicts have underscored that dominance in this zone directly influences the tempo, survivability, and outcomes of land battles, necessitating rapid, localized control and response by ground forces," the official said.
It is in this context that the LCH Prachand assumes significance.
"Agile, precise, and optimized to operate in all types of terrains, the Prachand provides the Indian Army with a dedicated platform to play a decisive role in the increasingly contested lower airspace," the official added.
The LCH Prachand, India's first indigenously designed attack helicopter, has been specifically built for high-altitude warfare and can operate effectively in rarefied conditions exceeding 6,000 m.
Its advanced avionics, precision weapons, and survivability features make it ideally suited for roles such as close air support, anti-armour missions, and armed reconnaissance.
The Army chief's flight thus reflects a broader transformation – where "indigenous capability, leadership intent, and evolving doctrine converge to position the Indian Army as a key force in shaping outcomes in the air littoral battlespace," the Army said.
The visit of the COAS also served as a strong endorsement of indigenous capability and operational readiness in the armed forces, the officials said.
Key platforms such as the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv, Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Prachand, along with the upgrade, maintenance, and production ecosystems supporting the Army Aviation, were showcased, highlighting India's growing strength in this critical domain.