Bangalore: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will deliver two Lancer Light attack helicopters designed for anti-insurgency operations in mountains and jungles to Nepal by the end of this month.

This is the first export order for the indigenously built Lancers, a modified version of the Cheetah helicopters by HAL, with an order value of around Rs 30 crore ($ six million).

"We will be delivering the Lancers in the next two to three days," HAL chairman N R Mohanty said.

The public sector defence undertaking has already delivered 12 Lancer helicopters to the Army for use in counter-insurgency operations.

According to sources, Nepal has sought from India the Lancer helicopter for counter- insurgency operations against the Maoist rebels in the dense jungles of the Himalayan kingdom.

"The order is valued at around Rs 30 crore, which will help HAL exports touch Rs 100 crore this year," Mohanty said.

The single engine Lancer has a lightweight composite armour protection for the pilot seats, control linkages below the cabin floor and the bottom surface of the fuel tank. The cabin canopy consists of a number of bulletproof glass panels placed at sharp angles so as to reduce the possibility of small arms fire hitting on any surface of the canopy, HAL officials said.

The low-cost attack helicopter has two attached pilons, which can carry 12.7 mm gun or 78 mm rocket pods and a gun side for accurate aiming and firing.

PTI