HAL Hands Over Three Advanced Light Helicopters to Indian Army
HAL handed over first three ALHs as part of the 22 ALH MK III contract to the Indian Army during Aero India 2019.
HAL had entered into a contract with the Indian Army for 40 ALH (22 ALH Mk III and 18 Mk IV Rudra) in August 2017. Of the 22 helicopters, 19 helicopters have already been produced and will be progressively delivered.
The documents were handed over to Lt Gen Kanwal Kumar, Director General Army Aviation by Mr GVS Bhaskar Chief Executive Officer, Helicopter Division in the presence of Mr. R Madhavan, CMD, HAL. Officials from the Army, HAL, DGAQA and RCMA were present on the occasion.
The Advanced Light Helicopter (Dhruv) is a multi-role helicopter in the 5.5-ton weight class, powered by two Shakti engines. It is suited for a high-speed cruise for rapid deployment and to maximise the area of operations. The basic helicopter is produced in skid version and wheeled version. In the wheeled version, options for fixed and retractable undercarriages are available.
Army Chief Flies HAL’s Light Combat Helicopter
The Army Chief, General Bipin Rawat, flew the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) during Aero India at Air Force Station, Yelahanka. The helicopter was piloted by Wg Cdr S John, HAL’s Test Pilot.
Terming the sortie in LCH as an experience of life time, he said it is suitable for the Army to take on adversaries in any terrain and different altitudes. Mr. R. Madhavan, CMD, HAL, Mr. G.V.S Bhaskar, CEO (Helicopter Complex), Wg Cdr, Unni Pillai, HAL’s Chief Test Pilot (Rotary Wing) and other senior officials from Army had a briefing session before the sortie.
LCH is a 5.5-ton class, combat helicopter designed and developed by HAL. It is powered by two Shakti engines and inherits many technical features of the Advanced Light Helicopter. The features that are unique to LCH are sleek and narrow fuselage, tri-cycle crashworthy landing gear, crashworthy and self-sealing fuel tanks, armor protection and low visibility features which makes it agile and survivable.
The helicopter would have day/night targeting systems for the crew including the Helmet pointed sight and Electro-optical pod consisting of CCD camera/FLIR/Laser Range Finder(LRF)/Laser Designator(LD). The LCH is fitted with Self Protection Suite consisting of Radar/Laser Missile warning systems and Countermeasures dispensing system. LCH received Initial Operation Clearance (IOC) on August 26, 2017, in the presence of the Defence Minister.
LCH is the first attack helicopter to land in Forward Bases at Siachen, 4700 mts above sea level. RFQ for 15 Limited Series Production (LSP) was received on December 22, 2017, and quotation has been submitted on March 15, 2018.
HAL inks MoU with CPWD for stage 2 works at Green Field Helicopter factory in Tumakuru
HAL signed an MoU with CPWD for the execution of the stage 2 works of Infrastructure development works at its Green Field Helicopter factory in Tumakuru at Aero India.
The MoU was signed by GVS Bhaskar, Chief Executive Officer, Helicopter Complex and Rajesh Jain, Chief Project Manager (CPM), HAL project zone, CPWD in the presence of R Madhavan, CMD, HAL.
The stage 2 works include development of infrastructure for structural assembly and equipping of helicopters at Tumakuru. The project will be executed in a phased manner. V Natarajan, ED Helicopter Division, Mr Ambuvelan, GM, Helicopter Division, Mr RK Soni, ADG, CPWD, Mr SN Rai, CE, CPWD were present on the occasion.
The new Helicopter factory coming up in a 615 acres green field campus that would be fully self-sufficient for manufacturing full range of helicopters from 3 ton to 12 tons category and shall comprise manufacturing, structural assembly, final assembly-line facilities, heli-runway, aerodrome, residential township for the staff, recreational facilities, a training and development centre, etc.
