November 15, 2014: With the first two technology demonstrators of the indigenous Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) logging about 388 flights and 285 hours, and with the third technology demonstrator taking to the air, HAL will be speeding towards getting the TD4 ready. While the project initially envisaged two technology demonstrators, the HAL board had decided to also roll out two additional technology demonstrators at a cost of Rs 150 crore as a risk mitigation exercise in the interests of better planning, execution and monitoring of the project and enhancement in the overall number of flights required to achieve cold weather trials, hot weather trails and weapon firing trials. HAL hopes to achieve initial operational clearance (IOC) on the LCH by September 2015. The latest TD3 flight was piloted by Wg Cdr Unni Pillai and co-piloted by Gp Capt SHK Nair and lasted approximately 20 minutes. The final technology demonstrator is in an advanced state of fabrication at HAL's Helicopter Division in Bengaluru.