Indian Army Cheetah Helicopter Crashes Near Leh; Three Officers, Including Major General, Escape Narrowly

A Cheetah helicopter of the Indian Army crashed in the rugged mountainous terrain of the Tangste region near Leh, with three officers on board, including a Major General, escaping with minor injuries.

New Delhi: A Cheetah helicopter of the Indian Army crashed in the rugged mountainous terrain of the Tangste region near Leh, with three officers on board, including a Major General, escaping with minor injuries.

The officials described the incident as nothing short of a miracle.

The incident occurred on Wednesday but came to light on Friday night.

The single-engine chopper was being piloted by a Lieutenant Colonel and a Major, with Major General Sachin Mehta, General Officer Commanding of the 3 Infantry Division, as their passenger.

All three sustained minor injuries. A Court of Inquiry has been instituted and a formal investigation is underway.

Current Fleet Strength

The Indian Army currently operates around 190 Cheetah, Chetak, and Cheetal helicopters out of an original fleet of 246, with approximately 25 undergoing maintenance at any given time.

Over 70% of the fleet is more than 30 years old. Across all three services, Army, Navy, and Air Force, the combined strength of Chetak and Cheetah helicopters stands at approximately 400.

The Road Ahead

The Indian Army is preparing to phase out these vintage helicopters. Phasing out is set to begin from 2027 onwards as aircraft complete their Total Technical Life (TTL), with the indigenous Light Utility Helicopter (LUH), developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), slated to replace them.

The Defence Ministry has initiated procurement of 200 new light helicopters, around 120 for the Army and 80 for the Air Force.