The Indian Army has continued operating its Cheetal helicopters in the Ladakh sector, including Siachen
June 26, 2026: The Indian Army has continued regular operations of its Cheetal helicopters in the Ladakh sector, including missions over the Siachen Glacier, even as an investigation into the May 20 crash near Leh’s Tangtse area progresses. According to officials, the probe is focusing on a suspected material failure in the helicopter’s transmission system. Investigators are examining the specific component that may have malfunctioned, after which corrective measures are expected to be implemented. The crash involved a lieutenant colonel, a major, and Major General Sachin Mehta, all of whom survived with minor injuries.
Officials said the Leh-based 14 Corps, which operates around 25 Cheetal helicopters, has continued daily sorties because the heavier Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv is not suitable for frontline operations in the high-altitude terrain of Ladakh. The Cheetal, a re-engined version of the Cheetah helicopter, is equipped with a TM333-2M2 engine and an automatic backup engine control system, giving it an exceptional power-to-weight ratio for mountain operations. Developed as a mid-life upgrade for the ageing Cheetah fleet, the helicopter has remained a critical asset in extreme Himalayan conditions.
The recent accident has once again highlighted the need to replace the ageing Cheetah and Chetak fleets, which were originally designed more than six decades ago. The Army plans to begin phasing them out over the next one to two years and replace them with approximately 250 new Light Utility Helicopters (LUHs) over the next eight to ten years. The modernisation strategy includes both indigenous LUHs manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and leased helicopters to bridge operational gaps during the transition.