[7] Accordingly, both HAL and the Indian Armed Forces commenced exploratory efforts towards the conceptualisation of a combat helicopter to perform in this role.

During 2006, the company announced that it had launched a development programme to produce such a rotorcraft, referred to simply as the LCH or Light Combat Helicopter.

[9][10] Accordingly, there was considerable interest in not only the acquisition of a suitable contemporary rotorcraft for the task (as well as to replace several aging types in Indian military service, such as the Cheetah and Chetak), but for such an aircraft to be domestically developed and manufactured in India as well.

[11] During late 2004, the Indian armed forces decided to curtail plans to order foreign-built attack helicopters in anticipation of a decision to formally select the tentative LCH.

Basing the LCH on an existing helicopter is expected to greatly reduce the associated costs of the programme, which was estimated to be roughly ₹376 crore (US$43.4 million) in 2010.

[16][17] During February 2009, Baweja announced another six-month delay to the development timetable, he also attributed some of the setbacks in the programme as having been a result of HAL's suppliers failing to deliver necessary tooling on time.

[18] During late January 2010, Nayak stated that the LCH had successfully completed initial ground tests and was now ready to fly; the first flight was anticipated to occur during February.

The second LCH prototype (TD-2) differed considerably from its predecessor, being fitted with armaments and featuring a substantial reduction in weight; it was publicly unveiled at Aero India 2011 during February 2011.

Speaking at the event, Nayak stated that the programme had exceeded human and payload requirements mandated by IAF for the development.

[30] During early 2015, a number of cold weather trials involving the third prototype (TD-3) were carried out at Leh Air Force Station (AFS).

[32][33] During June 2015, the LCH successfully completed hot weather flight trials at Jodhpur, during which the type was exposed to temperatures ranging from 39 to 42 °C.

The flight testing reportedly covered 'temperature survey of engine bay and hydraulic system', 'assessment of performance', 'handling qualities and loads' at different 'all up weights', 'low speed handling' and 'height-velocity diagram establishment'.

[36] During mid-2016, the LCH was recognised as having completed its performance trials, paving way for the certification of its basic configuration; a letter confirming this status was hand-delivered to HAL by CEMILAC in the presence of the Indian Defence Minister on 16 October 2015.

[42] On 26 August 2017, full-scale production of the LSP variant of Prachand was formally inaugurated by Defence Minister Arun Jaitley after it received initial operation clearance (IOC) the same day.

[43][44][45] On 21 February 2019, Thales announced that it was awarded a contract to supply 135 70 mm rockets for 15 LCHs alongside 18 HAL Rudra.

[5] On 19 November 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally handed over the LCH to IAF Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari, clearing way for full scale induction.

[49] 15 Limited Series Production variants for Army and Air Force are being built at HAL and the first two were scheduled to be delivered by March 2022.

[51] On 30 March 2022, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approved the limited series production of 15 LCHs, including ten for the IAF and five for the Indian Army.

[54] Subsequently, on 30 November 2023, Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoNs) for procurement of 156 LCH Prachand for both IAF and IA.

Shared elements between the two helicopters include the power-plant used, both being powered by a pair of co-developed HAL/Turbomeca Shakti-1H1 derived from Safran Ardiden turboshaft engines, albeit fitted with infrared suppressors.

[31] Atypically for a combat helicopter, it shall also be capable of high-altitude warfare (HAW), possessing an in-service operational ceiling of 6,000–6,500 metres (19,700–21,300 ft).

[61] A prominent element of the TADS system is the helmet mounted sight (HMS), which serves as the principal instrument for targeting and triggering the rotorcraft's armaments.

[72] On 7 August 2020, IAF's Vice Chief Air Marshal Harjit Singh Arora flew an LCH from Thoise to Leh accompanied by a HAL test pilot in full mission configuration.

[76][77][78] IAF formally inducted HAL Prachand into 143 Helicopter Unit at Jodhpur Air Force Station on 3 October 2022.

[81] On 12 November 2024, Indian Army's Gajraj Corps conducted high-altitude firing of autocannon and guided rockets in the Northeast India.

[85] On 21 October 2022, Argentine officials visited HAL facilities to examine the Prachand as Argentina expressed interest in the helicopter.