Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), a public listed defence public sector unit, has handed over three Advanced Light Helicopters (ALHs) to the Indian Army on Friday at Aero India 2019.
The company entered into a contract with the Indian Army for 40 ALH (22 ALH Mk III and 18 Mk IV Rudra) in August 2017. Of the 22 ALH Mk III helicopters, 19 helicopters have already been produced and will be progressively delivered.
The Advanced Light Helicopter (Dhruv) is a multi-role, new generation helicopter in the 5.5-ton weight class, indigenously designed and developed by HAL. Powered by two Shakti engines, it provides superlative performance throughout its flight envelope. It is suited for a high-speed cruise for rapid deployment and to maximise the area of operations.
The basic helicopter is produced in skid version and wheeled version. In the wheeled version, options for fixed and retractable undercarriages are available.
The documents were handed over to Lt Gen Kanwal Kumar, Director General Army - Aviation, by GVS Bhaskar, Chief Executive Officer, Helicopter Division, in the presence of R Madhavan, CMD, HAL.
New helicopter factory
HAL also on Friday signed an MoU with Central Public Works Department for the execution of the Stage-2 works of infrastructure development works at its greenfield helicopter factory in Tumakuru.
The Stage-2 works include development of infrastructure for structural assembly and equipping of helicopters at Tumakuru. The project will be executed in a phased manner.
The new helicopter factory will come up in a 615 acres greenfield campus that would be fully self-sufficient for manufacturing a full range of helicopters from 3 ton to 12 tons category, and shall comprise of state of the art manufacturing, structural assembly, final assembly-line facilities, heli-runway, aerodrome, residential township for the staff, recreational facilities, a well-equipped training and development centre.
The MoU was signed by GVS Bhaskar, Chief Executive Officer, Helicopter Complex and Rajesh Jain, Chief Project Manager (CPM), HAL project zone, CPWD in the presence of R Madhavan, CMD, HAL.
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