HAL Advanced Light Helicopter Dhruv

[delta]

The difference is quiet simple. Rudra is just an armed version of Dhruv. You could compare its role somewhat like MiL-24 or MiL-35 sans armour. Whereas LCH is a dedicated attack helicopter. Given the war scenario, Rudra is much more vulnerable to ground attack then LCH because of its size and profile. Moreover LCH has been optimized to carry out combat is high altitude whereas Rudra is not.

Rudra is more suited for simple CT role with troop carrying capability.

was suspecting the same.

also, wasn't the Dhruv's engine modified to be able to serve in high altitude areas like siachen? i figure Rudra would follow suit too

 

[Chinmoy]

was suspecting the same.

also, wasn't the Dhruv's engine modified to be able to serve in high altitude areas like siachen? i figure Rudra would follow suit too

Rudra could operate at 20,000 feet just like Dhruv, but LCH does have a service ceiling of 2100+ feet. Moreover Max takeoff weight of LCH is also more then Rudra. And its sleeker profile makes it a much harder target to engage.

 

[Chinmoy]

Rudra could operate at 20,000 feet just like Dhruv, but LCH does have a service ceiling of 2100+ feet. Moreover Max takeoff weight of LCH is also more then Rudra. And its sleeker profile makes it a much harder target to engage.

I left one zero out from the service ceiling of LCH. Sorry about that @delta :biggrin2:

 

[rotormagic]

The difference is quiet simple. Rudra is just an armed version of Dhruv. You could compare its role somewhat like MiL-24 or MiL-35 sans armour. Whereas LCH is a dedicated attack helicopter. Given the war scenario, Rudra is much more vulnerable to ground attack then LCH because of its size and profile. Moreover LCH has been optimized to carry out combat is high altitude whereas Rudra is not.

Rudra is more suited for simple CT role with troop carrying capability.

Chinmoy Ji, you are generally in the right direction but Mil 24/ 25/35 - these are pure combat/ attack helicopters. In heavier category than LCH.

Rudra is weaponised Dhruv like what Mi 17 becomes once loaded with rocket pods and guns etc. Rudra has better detection and avionics suit and better weapons package when compared to a Mi 17. Mi 17 carries more rockets and from Mi 171V on wards, the rockets are heavy 80 mms while earlier versions had 57 mm rockets though more in nos.

LCH is also a pure combat helicopter with better avionics and cockpit than a Mi24/ 25/35 but it is in lighter weight category. One unique advantage of LCH over Mi 25/35s in our inventory is its ability to handle serious altitude. The Russian machines could not be flown to Kargil region for the '99 conflict. With LCH, we will have a combat helicopter optimised to fight in any battlefield India can possibly be required to fight at.

 

[Chinmoy]

Chinmoy Ji, you are generally in the right direction but Mil 24/ 25/35 - these are pure combat/ attack helicopters. In heavier category than LCH.

Rudra is weaponised Dhruv like what Mi 17 becomes once loaded with rocket pods and guns etc. Rudra has better detection and avionics suit and better weapons package when compared to a Mi 17. Mi 17 carries more rockets and from Mi 171V on wards, the rockets are heavy 80 mms while earlier versions had 57 mm rockets though more in nos.

LCH is also a pure combat helicopter with better avionics and cockpit than a Mi24/ 25/35 but it is in lighter weight category. One unique advantage of LCH over Mi 25/35s in our inventory is its ability to handle serious altitude. The Russian machines could not be flown to Kargil region for the '99 conflict. With LCH, we will have a combat helicopter optimised to fight in any battlefield India can possibly be required to fight at.

I am not at all comparing the Russian Flying Tanks with any of our Light Copters. For the sake of simplicity I was only trying to draw a parallel in between them.........

 

[Certified Gipsy]

The difference is quiet simple. Rudra is just an armed version of Dhruv. You could compare its role somewhat like MiL-24 or MiL-35 sans armour. Whereas LCH is a dedicated attack helicopter. Given the war scenario, Rudra is much more vulnerable to ground attack then LCH because of its size and profile. Moreover LCH has been optimized to carry out combat is high altitude whereas Rudra is not.

Rudra is more suited for simple CT role with troop carrying capability.

CLEAN AND CLEAR CUT ANSWER! Great understanding.

 

[Prashant12]

Indian Air Force Rudra testing out its nose mounted gun turret at HAL Facility in Bangalore.

 

[Pulkit]

http://idrw.org/india-seeks-easa-certification-for-hal-built-dhruv-advanced-light-helicopters/
They are expecting Export orders when one of the buyers is planning to return the ones they bought....

 

[tejas warrior]

A HAL Dhruv on a Supply Run in Siachen.

Source: BRF

 

[tejas warrior]

Production rate for HAL Dhruv is around 30 per year.

 

[tejas warrior]

HAL Dhruv in duty of nation !!

 

[abingdonboy]

Production rate for HAL Dhruv is around 30 per year.

View attachment 12104 View attachment 12105

Pretty decent rate, still could afford to be 50-80% higher

 

[tejas warrior]

Pretty decent rate, still could afford to be 50-80% higher

Saurav Jha had twitted:
1. A second production line for the HAL Dhruv has been set up at Kanpur.
2. Current Production rate: Over 30 a year. Last year they delivered 35 or so.

My 2 questions l, if anyone can clarify please.
Is this 2nd production line is operational ?
and how many of them are remaining on orders ?

 

[abingdonboy]

and how many of them are remaining on orders ?

Between the IN,IAF,IAF and ICG and ALH and Rudra there is at least another 170/180 units on order but really the forces will keep ordering the ALH/Rudra for the forseeable future, soon the Mk.2s will need replacing (currently Mk.1 is bwing phased out) and more and more orders will keep flowing in year after year possiby for decades. The ALH is an excellent platform that fits the needs of Indian users perfectly and is constantly being refined, already here is a Mk.3 version (Mk.4 being the Rudra) we could see a Mk.5/6/7 who knows? There is no real limit on how many ALH/Rudra can be inducted and as the budgets swell as does the need to provide extra firepower and mobility to the armed forces the demand may actually increase with time.

 

[Pulkit]

Between the IN,IAF,IAF and ICG and ALH and Rudra there is at least another 170/180 units on order but really the forces will keep ordering the ALH/Rudra for the forseeable future, soon the Mk.2s will need replacing (currently Mk.1 is bwing phased out) and more and more orders will keep flowing in year after year possiby for decades. The ALH is an excellent platform that fits the needs of Indian users perfectly and is constantly being refined, already here is a Mk.3 version (Mk.4 being the Rudra) we could see a Mk.5/6/7 who knows? There is no real limit on how many ALH/Rudra can be inducted and as the budgets swell as does the need to provide extra firepower and mobility to the armed forces the demand may actually increase with time.

The current orders were made keeping in mind the absence of specialized Heli for a particular role....
The main purpose of Dhruv was transportation.

With some progress in the field of LUH and LCH i do not see alot many numbers being ordered further.

And we have also made commitment to Manufacture Russian LUH under Make in India initiative.

IAF and IA might make few further orders but will that be sufficient to keep two lines operational?

Are any export orders in pipeline?

 

[tejas warrior]

The current orders were made keeping in mind the absence of specialized Heli for a particular role....
The main purpose of Dhruv was transportation.

With some progress in the field of LUH and LCH i do not see alot many numbers being ordered further.

Saar, I want to ask you which IAF chopper can perform this better than Dhruv/Rudra ?

Even looks like IA used them in Surgical Strikes across LOC.

 

[Pulkit]

Saar, I want to ask you which IAF chopper can perform this better than Dhruv/Rudra ?

Even looks like IA used them in Surgical Strikes across LOC.

Saar ji...
I will just say it was being used as it only in the absence of a specialised heli...
LCH has shown more potential and once it is approved it will take up the role of attack heli...

LUH HAL there is not much info but it's on track and will also take up its role once ready....

Dhruv is gonna be there and might be ordered more but Rudra is the one in question here as once the LCH is ready will it not be of greater value to order LCH and not Rudra

 

[Kunal Biswas]

What is the specialization require for such a tasks as per Indian context ?

Saar ji...
I will just say it was being used as it only in the absence of a specialised heli...

 

[India22]

Dhruva is ideal helicopter for a utility helicopter. LCH is for combat, Rudra is too. Though I believe Dhruva should be able to be modified in field to be Rudra. Dhruva can carry weapons as well.

 

[tejas warrior]

Saar ji...
I will just say it was being used as it only in the absence of a specialised heli...
LCH has shown more potential and once it is approved it will take up the role of attack heli...

LUH HAL there is not much info but it's on track and will also take up its role once ready....

Dhruv is gonna be there and might be ordered more but Rudra is the one in question here as once the LCH is ready will it not be of greater value to order LCH and not Rudra

LCH is attack helicopter. It can't carry special forces. So, it can't carry CT operations at its own.
It's more like Tank killer.


Dhruv & Rudra is same, it's next version of Dhruv which is well armed. Rudra is also called Dhruv mk4.

Again, LUH is much smaller than Dhruv with single engine. I hope IA use Rudra in place of LUH for such operations.