India’s state-run aerospace and defence giant, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), is close to selecting a strategic international partner to co-develop an indigenous Electronic Warfare (EW) suite for the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), a key platform in India's high-altitude combat fleet. In what could be a decisive step toward defence self-reliance, HAL is evaluating proposals from some of the world’s leading defence electronics companies—Sweden’s SAAB, Italy’s Elettronica, Germany’s Hensoldt, and Israel’s Elbit Systems—for a long-term collaboration that will shape the future of Indian rotary-wing EW capability.
The decision, expected within the coming months, will pave the way for integrating an Indianised, high-performance EW system tailored specifically for the LCH, also known as ‘Prachand’. Developed for operations in some of the world's most challenging terrains—such as the Siachen Glacier and the Himalayan border zones—the LCH is already operational with the Indian Air Force and Army, but HAL now wants to give it the edge it needs in electronic survivability.
A Leap Towards EW Autonomy
At the heart of HAL’s search is the goal to indigenise critical EW capabilities that remain largely import-dependent. Instead of relying on ready-made foreign solutions, HAL seeks a true co-development framework—one that not only supplies India with advanced EW tech, but also allows Indian engineers and technicians to build, modify, and even export variants in the future.
HAL's selection criteria are highly focused and technical:
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Depth of Technology Transfer: The extent to which foreign companies are willing to share core technologies, not just black-box solutions.
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Modular and Open Architecture: Systems must be designed with flexibility in mind, so they can evolve with new threats and adapt to other Indian platforms like the Dhruv or future unmanned helicopters.
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Customisability: India’s operational environments, especially high-altitude and asymmetric warfare zones, require unique sensor configurations and thermal tolerances.
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Speed of Integration: With LCH production ramping up, HAL aims to integrate the new EW suite in time to meet the upcoming deployment schedules.
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IP Ownership and Export Rights: The partnership must allow HAL to own critical software and export the system with minimal restrictions, especially as the LCH is being pitched to countries in Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America.
What the EW Suite Will Contain
The indigenous suite will likely include:
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Radar Warning Receivers (RWR) to detect hostile radar tracking,
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Laser Warning Systems (LWS) to identify threats from laser-guided munitions,
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Missile Approach Warning Sensors (MAWS) to warn of incoming missile threats,
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Countermeasure Dispensing Systems (CMDS) to deploy chaff and flares in response,
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Signal Processing and Data Fusion Units for better situational awareness.
These components must work seamlessly with the LCH’s existing mission computers and display systems. The integration must also be rugged enough to withstand high-altitude conditions, temperature extremes, and high electromagnetic interference levels typical of contested airspace.
Global Firms, Indian Priorities
The four shortlisted firms are all seasoned in providing helicopter-borne EW systems. SAAB already supports the Indian Navy’s Dhruv helicopters with its IDAS suite and has previously offered deep technology partnerships under ‘Make in India’. Elettronica, known for equipping Eurofighter Typhoons and NH90s, has extensive experience in modular systems. Hensoldt has emerged as a strong contender with scalable architecture EW solutions compatible with NATO and non-NATO systems. Elbit Systems, with a long-standing track record in Israeli rotary-wing platforms, offers compact, battle-proven systems, many of which are already exported globally.
Each proposal is being carefully weighed for how well it aligns with India’s operational and strategic imperatives, not just technological prowess.
The Bigger Picture
This EW development project is not just about enhancing one helicopter. It is part of a broader push by the Ministry of Defence to create a self-sustaining ecosystem for high-end defence electronics. The suite developed with this program could find future application in the Indian Navy’s MH-60R helicopters, future unmanned rotorcraft, or the multi-role helicopter program (IMRH).
Moreover, HAL’s move is timely. With China rapidly expanding its electronic warfare footprint across the Himalayas and Pakistan fielding new radar-guided weaponry, the need for indigenous, adaptive EW systems on Indian platforms is urgent. The integration of such systems will directly enhance the survivability of LCH units deployed along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), where electronic signature management is often the difference between mission success and failure.
Looking Ahead
HAL is expected to complete technical and commercial evaluations by the end of 2025. Following that, the development phase will commence, targeting system trials on LCH testbeds by 2026 and integration into production-line helicopters shortly after.
India’s defence roadmap is clear—achieve technological sovereignty through strategic partnerships that enable deep capability, not dependency. The LCH’s new electronic brain will be a litmus test of how well HAL can execute this doctrine.
If successful, this program will mark a turning point in India's combat aviation landscape—moving from assembly and license production to truly smart, sovereign, and export-ready electronic warfare capability.
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