The Hindu Business Line : Jharkhand to acquire Dhruv helicopters

HAL's star product `Dhruv' seems to be soaring. The Jharkhand Government is acquiring two of the indigenously made helicopters for its police force and VIP movement. HAL will also provide repair and maintenance of the copter.

HAL said the advanced light helicopter (ALH) comprehensively covers the spectrum of heli-services needed by the civil administration.

It said the ALH can be used for transportation, VIP communication, search and rescue, as medical ambulance, law enforcement, anti-insurgency activities, for tourism, adventure and surveys among others.

The Jharkhand order comes as Dhruv basks in some international attention. Chile has expressed its interest in the helicopter, four of which were demonstrated in the Chilean skies last year.

The Chilean Government is expected to make its decision by April this year, mostly for the armed forces.

The twin-engine multi-role copter was flown in display again in January when the Chilean President visited Bangalore.

During the tsunami relief operations, the Army and Coast Guard deployed the ALHs in Nagapattinam, Kumbakonam and Chennai, making them the first Indian helicopters to take part in disaster relief sorties.

The first ALH was handed over to the Coast Guard in March 2002 and the first export was to Nepal.

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