Aviation

IAF to induct Made-in-India light combat helicopter at Jodhpur

The first batch of indigenous developed Light Combat Helicopters (LCH) will be added to the Indian Air Force’s inventory at a ceremony in Jodhpur, Rajasthan

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The first batch of indigenous developed Light Combat Helicopters (LCH) will be added to the Indian Air Force’s inventory at a ceremony in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, giving the IAF a significant boost in combat capabilities.

Rajnath Singh, the defence minister, will be present as the indigenous helicopters are accepted into the IAF.The new helicopter being recruited into the army has aerial warfare capabilities and will aid the force in combating slow-moving aircraft, drones, and armoured columns during battles. Rajnath Singh, who has been crucial in advancing cases for troops to purchase indigenous platforms, will oversee the induction event.

10 facts about the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) made by Indian HAL. (Opens in a new browser tab)

To satisfy the needs of the military forces, the choppers have been flown extensively in Ladakh and the desert region. In the past three to four years, the IAF has added a number of helicopters to its fleet, including the Chinooks, Apache assault helicopters, and now LCHs.

On March 30, 2022, CCS gathered in New Delhi under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The CCS has approved the purchase of 15 Limited Series Production Light Combat Helicopters (LCH) For a total of Rs. 3,887 Cr. along with infrastructure sanctions of Rs. 377 Cr.

An indigenously designed, developed, and produced modern combat aircraft, the Light Combat Helicopter Limited Series Production (LSP) has approximately 45 percent indigenous content by value and will have more than 55 percent for the SP Version.

IAF to induct first batch of domestically built LCH at Jodhpur (Opens in a new browser tab)

Many important aviation technology, like composite airframe structures and glass cockpits, have been indigenously developed. The upcoming Series Production version will have further contemporary and native systems. Under the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan, India is steadily improving its capacity to design, develop, and produce innovative cutting-edge technologies and systems on its own in the defence sector.

The production of LCH by HAL will support the Atmanirbhar Bharat project and advance the localization of defence production and the nation’s defence sector. LCH will lessen the nation’s reliance on imported combat helicopters. The embargo list for imports of light combat helicopters is already in place. LCH is capable of exporting due to its flexible characteristics that are integrated for combat operations.

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Aviation

Boeing Resumes 737 MAX Manufacturing After Seven-Week Strike

In a crucial move for its recovery, Boeing has restarted production of its best-selling 737 MAX jetliner, about a month after a significant seven-week strike involving 33,000 factory workers came to an end.

This marks a key milestone for the planemaker, which has been facing considerable challenges in recent years, including heavy debt and a series of setbacks.

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According to the report from Reuters, Boeing resumed the production of the 737 MAX jetliner last week, a pivotal step as the company aims to meet the growing global demand for air travel. With over 4,200 orders from airlines, Boeing’s ability to get the 737 MAX production line back in motion is vital for its financial recovery.

Although Boeing had previously planned to restart production earlier, the company faced numerous obstacles that delayed this process. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) head Mike Whitaker told Reuters on Thursday that while Boeing had not yet resumed production, they had plans to restart by the end of the month.

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The road to this point has been rocky for Boeing. Setbacks such as the tragic fatal crashes of the 737 MAX, the COVID-19 pandemic, ongoing supply chain issues, production safety concerns, and increased regulatory scrutiny have all contributed to delays in the company’s efforts to ramp up production.

The seven-week strike, which involved thousands of Boeing’s factory workers, added yet another hurdle. Despite these challenges, production of the 737 MAX officially resumed on Friday, according to one of the anonymous sources.

Boeing, however, declined to comment on the matter. The planemaker is now focused on reaching its goal of producing 56 737 MAX airplanes per month, a target that has been delayed due to the many issues that have beset the company over the past few years.