LANCER
The line drawing and description here have been taken from VAYU Aerospace Review, Issue 1998/I
There have been various concept studies at HAL on a dedicated light attack helicopter and some preliminary designs were displayed some years back at the Paris Air Show in 1995 (the LAH). The Lancer is described as "a novel, small size attack helicopter, whose design is based on HAL's own research and development plus new technology The helicopter (fully funded by HAL's own resources) is "styled on the lines of the Cheetah yet (will) be different". The HAL Lancer is specifically designed as a counter-insurgency helicopter (particularly in mountains and thick jungles}, for para-military surveillance duties, police patrolling, intimidation and harassment of enemy troops and against light armour. Again, exclusive details with the Vayu reveal that the Lancer will have light-weight composite armour protection for the pilot seats, control linkages below the cabin floor and the bottom surface of the fuel tank. The cabin canopy 'onsists of a number of toughened glass panels placed at sharp angles so as to reduce the possibility of small arms fire hitting at 90 degrees on any sunface of the canopy ("batmobile like", according to a HAL designer).
The HAL Lancer, with a MTOW of 1300 kg., will carry weapons (guns + rocket pods) upto 360 kg., consisting of two combination gun-cum-rocket pods, one on each side on suspension points located on the armament pylon. Each pod will have one 12.7 mm machine gun and four 70 mm rockets. A gunsight would be incorporated for accurate aiming and firing. With the above configuration the Lancer has a radius of action of upto 150 Km., and can loiter to engage targets for 45 minutes before returning to base with fuel reserves for 20 minutes.
The Lancer is now in service and has been used in counter-terrorism operations against Pakistani terrorists operating in Kashmir in India.
The photograph below depicts an Indian Army Lancer in service. The Photograph at bottom shows a Lancer firing an air to surface missile.
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