Atul Chandra

The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is emerging as one of the Asian leaders in rotorcraft development with a growing portfolio of helicopters. The most recent success is the induction of the first squadron of indigenously designed and developed Light Combat Helicopters (LCH) into the IAF. The LCH joins its stablemates, the Dhruv MkIII and Dhruv Weapon System Integrated Rudra. While the former is a utility helicopter, the latter is an armed version of the same helicopter. The HAL has also completed development of the indigenous Light Utility Helicopter (LUH), which is a single-engine helicopter designed to replace the iconic Cheetah/Chetak helicopters operating with the Indian armed forces.

Dhruv

The HAL produced its 300th Dhruv helicopter in September 2020 and company officials are confident that taking all current and future orders into account, the production of Dhruv helicopters will touch the 500 mark. The HAL is shortly expected to complete an order for the delivery of 72 helicopters for the Indian armed forces and Indian Coast Guard (ICG). The orders are for delivery of 40 Dhruv MkIII helicopters for the Indian Army, 16 Dhruv MkIII helicopters for the ICG and 16 Dhruv MkIII helicopters for the Indian Navy.

The army order is split into 22 Dhruv Mark III utility helicopters and 18 Rudra armed helicopters. The HAL had completed production of the 22 utility helicopters ordered by the army, ahead of the contracted delivery schedule. Company officials say the