First Green ALH Dhruv Mk-III Makes Successful Maiden Ground Run; Soon to be Deployed for ICG

The ALH Dhruv-Mk-III has been successfully built and is currently undergoing integration and certifications for its new systems

India’s first ‘green’ helicopter is now ready to be deployed for the Indian Coast Guard. ALH Dhruv Mk-III’s building has completed with installation of basic systems. The helicopter even made a successful maiden ground run recently.

Handed over to the Rotary Wing R&D Centre, the ALH still needs integration and certification for its 19 new systems. Director General Indian Coast Guard, Rajendra Singh received the contract documents from CMD-HAL, T. Suvarna Raju during a special event to mark the occasion.




Speaking at the event, Raju said for the first time, HAL has entered into a contract with ICG that includes Performance Based Logistics (PBL) support after the delivery of Helicopters for five years.  HAL’s ALH Dhruv Helicopters have already been extensively deployed by ICG for various roles such as Search and Rescue (SAR), casualty evacuation, armed patrol, coastal surveillance, VIP movement and the night SAR. This order reflects the trust on HAL’s capabilities and gives an impetus to Make-in-India campaign.  It reposes faith of the Indian Defence Forces in indigenous ALH which has been serving them with distinction for a long time, Raju added.

The certified helicopter deliveries are scheduled to commence from 2020 onwards. HAL signed a contract worth Rs 5126 crore for supplying 16 ALHs (Fixed Wheel) to Indian Coast Guard(ICG) in five year timeframe in March 2017 to boost the Low Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO) and Coast Security capabilities. The first ALH Dhruv squadron of Indian Coast Guard was commissioned in March 2002 with its operational base at Indian Coast Guard Air Enclave (ICGAE), Goa.

ALH Dhruv-Mk-III

 

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