President Droupadi Murmu
New Delhi: In a powerful display of confidence in India’s indigenous defence capabilities, President Droupadi Murmu will fly a sortie in indigenous Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Prachand at Jaisalmer in Rajasthan, just before the beginning of the Indian Air Force’s largest exercise – Vayu Shakti 2026 on Friday.
In a statement, the President House said: “The mission will be undertaken as a two aircraft LCH formation, with Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, flying in the second LCH.”
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After her sortie in the LCH, President Murmu will also witness Indian Air Force's Exercise Vayu Shakti.
About LCH Prachand
Designed and developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the LCH ‘Prachand’ is India’s first indigenously built dedicated attack helicopter.
Built for high-altitude warfare and capable of operating in extreme conditions, the helicopter has already been inducted into both the Indian Air Force and the Indian Army.
Her flight underscores the government’s continued push for self-reliance in defence manufacturing under the broader vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
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Capable of operating at altitudes above 16,000 feet, the LCH was designed with lessons learned from the Kargil conflict, where the need for a specialised attack platform in mountainous terrain became evident.
Its narrow fuselage, stealth features, and crashworthy landing gear enhance survivability in combat environments.
It must be noted that the President’s decision to fly in the LCH sends a strong message of trust in India’s homegrown technology and the armed forces that operate it.
It also highlights India’s growing stature as a defence manufacturing hub with ambitions to expand exports of indigenous platforms in the coming years.
