LOH :A Saga Of Lost Opportunity

HAL decided to design and develop the Light Obeservation Helicopter(LOH ) , to meet the IA demand of LOH , It was a 3 ton single engine helicopter to be powered by Shakti engines , it was an all composite fuselage structure , with bearingless main rotor and “Fenestron” type ducted tail rotor similar to EC-135

After spending Time , Money and Manhours in designing and developing the ALH , The LOH would have been a smoother ride with tremendous benefits and offsets to industry and much lower procurement cost for the IA not to mention the export potential for such light chopper even though there is tremendious competition in that space , But price factor could have favoured India.

But some how and suddenly the LOH was cancelled ( they say the army was not interested or HAL’s hands were full ) and the LOH contest is now between US Bell 407 and the Eurocopter EC-135 with the winner to be chosen soon , If HAL’s hands were full then production could have been given to the private sectors in India.

What prevented HAL from continuing and aborting the project ???

LOH

LOH ( source BR )

Eurocopter EC-135

Bell 407