HAL Building New Attack Helicopter

Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. plans to field a new light attack helicopter capable of operating at high altitudes by mid-2008, according to the Indo-Asian News Service. The news agency quoted HAL Chairman Ashok Baweja as saying the new helicopter is under development and is a brand new design. "We want our attack helicopters to operate at altitudes of over 15,000 ft.,” he said. “When you are operating at high altitudes you must have lighter machines. You can't have a 10-tonne helicopter operating at those heights.” More