Light Combat Helicopter Inauguration Sans A.K. Anthony

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BANGALORE, INDIA (GaeaTimes.com)- The Light Combat Helicopter has been launched in the country on Sunday and India is celebrating the success of making it to the list of nations equipped with similarly designed choppers. After the inaugural function was completed in Bangalore on Sunday, Defense Minister of India A.K. Anthony announced that the LCH is dedicated to the people of the country. Considering that the light combat helicopter is the first attack chopper of its kind in the country, it was a fitting dedication.

However, in spite of the statement issued by him, A.K. Anthony and his deputy M. Pallam Raju were not present during the inauguration ceremony of the light combat helicopter paying respect to the victims of the recent Air India crash in Mangalore. Both the Defense Minister and his deputy were extremely saddened by the disaster that hit the country on Saturday and thus decided to abstain from the celebrations surrounding the launch of the LCH.

This however does not mean that there was no inauguration program during the launch of the Light Combat Helicopter. The LCH took to the Indian skies as scheduled and Sitanshu Kar, the Director of the Indian Air Force Public Relations introduced Air Force Chief Marshal P.V. Naik as the chief guest for the occasion. Though the LCH will technically start operations after four years, India can now boast of a fighter chopper, the first chopper which is equipped with a 20 mm turret gun. This means that the light combat helicopter can conduct attacks during the day and night. The digital video recorder will further help the Armed Forces in the search and rescue operations.