HAL Lancer

HAL Lancer is a light attack helicopter (LAH) developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.
It is a Gunship version of the Cheetah Multi-role helicopter -Indian license produced variant of Aérospatiale SA 315B Lama. HAL Lancer was developed in late 1990's as stopgap due to delay in delivery of the new HAL Dhruv helicopter. It is a low cost airmobile area weapon system and is powered by a Turbomeca Artouste III B Engine with an
output of 550 SHP at 33500 RPM.
HAL Lancer is designed as light armored and armed scout helicopter for a Anti-insurgency operations, casuality evacuation, reconnaissance, patrolling and limited anti-armour applications. It has a combat radius of upto 150 Km and can hover to engage targets for 45 minutes with fuel reserves for 20 minutes.
Armament
HAL Lancer carries twin combination pods. One each on either side, with a single Belgian FN Herstal 12.7 millimeter machine gun and three 70 millimeter unguided folding-fin rockets. A gunsight is fitted for the pilot.
Armor
Armor protection have been provided to critical parts of the helicopter. The Pilots sit in seats which are in a bullet resistant Steel plate enclosure. There is light-weight composite armour for the control linkages below the cabin floor and the bottom surface of the fuel tank and Toughened glass panels for cabin canopy. The nose of cabin canopy also have some armor protection panels.
Upgrade
HAL Lancer is expected to employ a 807 kW (1,082 shp) Turbomeca TM 333-2M2 turboshaft in future as used in HAL Cheetal, an upgraded HAL Cheetah helicopter.
Deployment
HAL Lancer has been successfully developed and accepted by Indian army. An order for 12 Lancer helicopters was placed in early 2000's. 10 were ordered in November 2001 by Nepal. A fully-equipped Lancer cost $2 million (2001).
External Ref.
* Hal-india
* Bharat-rakshak
* HAL Lancer (India) - Jane's All the World's Aircraft
* Indian Army order

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