KNDS will deliver 126 more 20-mm gun turrets of the THL20 type for the Indian attack helicopter HAL Prachand, also known as the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH). The company announced this on Thursday of last week. KNDS has already delivered 136 THL20 for the HAL Dhruv of the Indian Air Force (IAF), which since 1984 was developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited in collaboration with Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm on the basis of the MBB BK 117 as an Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH). The Dhruv, in turn, served as the basis for the Prachand.
This is a combat helicopter in a typical tandem cockpit configuration with an empty weight of 2,250 kg, a maximum takeoff weight of 5,800 kg, and a permissible weapons load of 1,750 kilograms. Powered by two Safran (formerly Turbomeca) Ardiden 1 turboshaft engines, each delivering 1,032 kilowatts, licensed produced by HAL Shaki-1, it reaches a top speed of 280 km/h and a service ceiling of 6,500 meters with a range of 700 kilometers. It was introduced in 2022 in small quantities, initially ten for the IAF and a further five for the Indian Army Aviation. India has ordered a further 66 for the former and 90 for the latter.
THL20 Based on THL30 for the Tiger Attack Helicopter
The THL20 turret is based on the THL30 for the French Eurocopter Tiger HAD/HAP. Instead of the M781 autocannon originally developed by GIAT in 30 x 113 mm caliber, it contains the M621 in 20 x 102 mm caliber. The gas-operated loader later produced by Nexter, now part of KNDS, weighs 45.5 kilograms, has a barrel length of 1,460 mm and a rate of fire of 800 rounds per minute, and in Germany is also procured by the Special Forces Command (KSK) as the armament for the Reconnaissance and Combat Vehicle (AGF) 2.
The THL20 is also designed for use on the UH-60 Black Hawk and the IAR 330, the Romanian-licensed version of the Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma. KNDS furthermore identifies itself as the official supplier of 20- and 30-mm ammunition for the IAF and the Indian Army. The company is also the manufacturer of the revolver cannon M791 in the 30 x 150 mm caliber in Indian Rafale-type combat aircraft and has recently, with the domestic partner SMPP, agreements to produce precision-guided 155-mm artillery ammunition Katana and loitering munitions MV 100 in India.
