The Hindu Business Line : HAL tests two Dhruv versions

Flying high: Mr Ashok K. Baweja, Chairman, HAL, addressing presspersons on the occasion of the inaugural flights of Dhruv helicopters at HAL’s Helicopter Complex in Banglore on Thursday. Others seen are (from left) Mr Mohan Nadgir, Director (Design); Mr Ashok Nayak, M.D. Bangalore Complex, HAL; Wing Commander (retired) C.D.Upadhyay, HAL’s Chief Test Pilot and others. —

Our Bureau

Bangalore, Aug. 16

The home-made multi-role advanced light helicopter Dhruv crossed one more milestone on Thursday as its maker, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, tested two new versions for the military.

Making their 30-minute demonstrations were a navy blue weapon-loaded copter; and Dhruv Mk3 in olive green fatigues that was powered by Shakti, the locally developed aero engine. The 5.8-tonne Dhruv is HAL’s star product targeted at global civil and defence markets.

The final, weaponised 5.8-tonne copter for the armed forces would be armed with an 70-mm air-to-air missile launchers, a 20-mm turret gun and advanced sensors. But it may not be delivered before mid-2009 as “we need to do a lot of trials, including the weapon (firing) trials” after integrating and firing actual weapons from the aircraft, Mr A.K. Baweja, HAL Chairman, said at a news conference here.

The latest test, he said, was the carriage trial to prove the copter’s flight capability with dummy load. “However, we are well on our way on the Dhruv story,” he said. It will next be integrated with anti-tank guided missiles.

The Shakti engine, taken up in 2003 by HAL’s venture with French major Turbomeca to power the helicopter, too, has some way to go, including winter trials in early 2008 before seeking certification. Admitting that “(Aero)engine development is difficult and complex,” Mr Baweja said Shakti was 30 per cent more powerful than the present Turbomeca TM 333-2B2 engine and allowed 150 per cent better carrying capacity in high altitudes. The Shakti-powered Dhruv will be tested at sea level, high altitudes, cold, hot and desert conditions for certification.

GOOD MARKET

Dhruv is priced on an average Rs 35 crore. The domestic defence market alone would exceed 250, with paramilitary and oil exploration companies adding another 50, according to Mr Baweja. HAL has delivered 67 of the 75 firm military orders so far and expects more to flow in.

Dhruv stands a good chance of bagging orders in Chile, Bolivia and Turkey and the defence PSU has decided to do its marketing on its own. HAL had initially struck a marketing tie-up with Israel’s IAI, also its early ALH customer.

A helicopter MRO division has been set up with a Rs 200-crore outlay to keep the spares, technical assistance going. It would need some 550 people to for the unit.

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