NAVAL ALH - First Naval ALH squadron to be in Kochi

[muralidon924]

can anybody tell me what will be its role?

 

[rugved]

can anybody tell me what will be its role?

Search and rescue.

 

[ninja85]

does naval ALH have to be more powerful than air force ALH?

 

[bhramos]

does naval ALH have to be more powerful than air force ALH?

almost yeah, these need to have to carry sonars, sonar buoys and torpedoes.....

 

[ninja85]

almost yeah, these need to have to carry sonars, sonar buoys and torpedoes.....

but their engines are same as air force ALH.

 

[bhramos]

but their engines are same as air force ALH.

yeah but the payload weight is replaced the ASW machines..

 

[kstriya]

Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Robin K. Dhowan speaking to Indian media highlighted some of the steps taken by Indian Navy to fill the operational gap due to the shortage of helicopters and also confirmed that case for procurement of additional ALH Dhruv is in the final stage of negotiations with HAL.

While in past Indian Navy had virtually written off the naval variant of the advanced light helicopter (ALH), Dhruv, saying it has failed to meet basic operational requirements. Navy only operates 6 Naval Dhruv and have refused to place further orders with HAL since it was not satisfied with the chopper’s rotor blade folding mechanism which are crucial for storage of helicopters on warships.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) which has developed a new lighter and effectively faster rotor blade folding mechanism for light utility helicopters (LUH) will also integrate the same system on Naval Dhruv and will again offer it to Indian Navy for further testing.

It’s still not clear if Indian Navy will be placing orders for Shore based ALH for SAR missions or will order new variants which will allow it to be operated from Warships and can be used for Anti-ship roles.

Defence Analyst Ranesh Rajan close to idrw.org points outs that Navy was not happy with its payload capacity which will still persist with operational shortfalls even after getting new rotor blade folding mechanism and in past Navy had complained poor performance of ALH Dhruv in ASW (anti-submarine warfare) version too.

 

[Rizvi Khan]

India must induct them in large numbers as they come with folding main rotor blades.

 

[FalconSlayers]

India must induct them in large numbers as they come with folding main rotor blades.