HAL’s Dhruv NG Makes Inaugural Flight; Marks Firm Entry into Civil Aviation Sector

HAL’s Dhruv New Generation (NG) helicopter successfully completed its inaugural flight on December 30, marking HAL’s firm entry into the civil aviation helicopter sector and a significant milestone in India’s journey towards ‘Aatmanirbharta’ in civil aviation. Minister of civil aviation Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu flagged off the inaugural flight in the presence of CMD, HAL, Dr D.K. Sunil, joint director general, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Maneesh Kumar, CMD, Pawan Hans Ltd Sanjeev Razdan and senior HAL officials at Helicopter Division, Bengaluru.

During the event, HAL also received the Certification of ‘Indigenous manufacturing of Shakti Civil Engine’ from the DGCA. This is the first time that an aero engine has been certified by DGCA for indigenous production, representing a major leap forward in India’s self-reliance in critical technologies. This landmark achievement has been made possible with the participation of Safran Engines and the close coordination of the DGCA. Dhruv NG is progressing well towards full civil certification in the next three to four months.

Terming it as a flight of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, Ram Mohan Naidu said, “This flight marks an important milestone in Indian aviation. I can see the sankalp of a viksit Bharat taking wings. HAL has successfully conducted the inaugural flight within a year of showcasing the demo. Dhruv NG has emerged as a platform for several operators. The ‘Make in India’ is now a seal of global quality.”

D.K. Sunil added, “Dhruv ‘New Gen’ helicopter is the cornerstone of HAL’s civil expansion. The Dhruv Mk 1 civil platform has already clocked over 24,000 hours and has been specifically upgraded to meet the rigorous demands of the global civil aviation market, marking a milestone in India’s indigenous rotary-wing capability. The Dhruv NG offers enhanced safety, high-performance and cost-effectiveness, making it a strong alternative to imported helicopters. We are working closely with the DGCA to ensure globally aligned certification standards.”

Designed and manufactured by HAL, the Dhruv NG is a sophisticated 5.5-tonne, light twin-engine, multi-role helicopter engineered to master the diverse and demanding requirements of the Indian terrain. Equipped with twin Shakti 1H1C engines, the helicopter features a world-class, civil-certified glass cockpit (compliant to AS4 requirements) and a modern avionics suite for superior situational awareness. To enhance safety and reliability, Dhruv NG incorporates crashworthy seats, self-sealing fuel tanks, and a proven twin-engine configuration for high redundancy. The advanced vibration control systems ensure a smooth ride, tailored for VIP and medical transport.

HAL offers a ‘One-Stop Solution’ for manufacturing, maintenance, and upgrades. Operational support is provided through integrated logistics models, including Power-By-Hour (PBH) and Performance-Based Logistics (PBL), ensuring high fleet serviceability.