India's Light Combat Helicopter fires first rocket

The indigenous Light Combat Helicopter has achieved yet another milestone by satisfactory firing of rockets (70 mm) from its prototype, TD-3 in weaponized configuration, its maker Hindustan Aeronautics Limited said on Monday.

This comes after successful completion of basic performance flight testing and outstation trials for cold weather, hot weather and hot and high altitude testing in 2015, HAL said.

"The initial rocket firing trials have been carried out at Jaisalmer, establishing satisfactory integration of hardware and software, structural integrity and safe separation of rocket ammunition," the defence PSU said in a statement.

Integration of weapons such as rocket, turret gun (20 mm) and air-to-air missile on LCH will further continue, HAL Chairman and Managing Director T Suvarna Raju said.

"These trials give us confidence for carrying out certification firing trials planned during April-May 2016," he said.

LCH is a 5.5-ton class combat helicopter designed and developed by HAL.

Its features include sleek and narrow fuselage, tri-cycle crashworthy landing gear, crashworthy and self-sealing fuel tanks, Armour protection, nuclear and low visibility features which makes the LCH lethal, agile and survivable, HAL said.