HAL Advanced Light Helicopter Dhruv

[AVERAGE INDIAN]

Dhruvs on Vikramaditya ..

The first ALH (Dhruv) Squadron was commissioned at Kochi today by Vice Admiral Shekhar Sinha, Flag Officer Commanding in Chief Western Naval Command. Dhruv is the first indigenously designed and manufactured helicopter at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and with its multi role capabilities has proven her mettle in all the three services of the Armed Forces, Indian Coast Guard , BSF and in the inventory of foreign countries. The squadron would have the name Indian Naval Air Squadron (INAS) 322. Addressing the commissioning ceremony parade, Vice Admiral Sinha said that in the Navy, Dhruv helicopters has transformed into an advanced search and rescue (SAR) helicopter also used for missions like heliborne operations, and armed patrol with night vision devices. Such machines in the inventory have become imperative for the Navy given the scenario of low intensity maritime operations (LIMO) and coastal security construct said the Admiral. Looking ahead, Vice Admiral Sinha said that with the commissioning of Vikramaditya, Navy's reach and ability to respond in real time to developing situations in our area of responsibility would see a quantum jump. Aerial assets like UAVs, Mig 29 K fighters, P 8 I and Dhruv have added punch to our quiver he added.

Vice Admiral Satish Soni, Flag Officer Commanding in Chief Southern Naval Command under whose administrative control INAS 322 would function, in his address said that, the versatile aircraft would soon be cleared for night SAR role, one of the few helicopters in the world to have that capability over sea. He also expressed satisfaction that the ALH would beef up the coast security architecture. Earlier, Smt Mona Sinha named the squadron as INAS 322 and unveiled the commissioning plaque. Commander Ravi Sivasankar, the first Commanding Officer of the Squadron recited the invocation and read out the commissioning warrant. The squadron will call themselves "Guardians" with the credo "Search Fearlessly, Rescue Valiantly" signifying their primary role of SAR. The commissioning ceremony was held at INS Garuda, the Naval Air Station and mother base of INAS 322.

Print Release

 

[Kunal Biswas]

I dont understand the need for a inferior type in present of a superior system ..
@Decklander Sir, Could have said something about it ..

Kunal sir do we really need N-LUH competition (4.5T) or is there any scam going on.

 

[bennedose]

Bad news for ALH. 2 ALH helicopters have crashed in Siachen ruling it out for this job.

Crisis in Siachen: Two crashes in nine months, army troops face transport crisis | The Indian Express



this ties in exactly what I had heard from a senior IAF pilot operating in that area. ALH is simply not fit for these altitudes. @Kunal Biswas any comments on this.

This information is wrong and a fake plant in the media probably by the import lobby. Hari Nair a test pilot of the ALH has confirmed this in a post on BRF which he occasionally visits. The following is a post that he has admitted making in the Indian Express site that carried the news report

A Concerned Citizen >Air Warrior "¢ 14 minutes agoDear Air Warrior, Let's please stay focused on the point that I am making. The two Dhruv MkIII accidents on the Glacier were NOT due to any technical or systems malfunction. You may please check the facts.

The case for replacement of Cheetahs is definitely justifiable, as I already said. A light helicopter is required to land on those tiny postage stamp sized helipads and on those helipads atop small ice-pillars.

However, fudging the statistics and bashing the Dhruv, so as to butress this replacement case is DEAD WRONG. Also, having flown the Mi-17, Cheetah and Dhruv Mk III on the Glacier and in the know of all performance details, I stand by my statement that the Dhruv Mk III FAR outperforms either the Cheetah or any of its intended replacements in terms of performance and handling. Have a word with the boys in the Sqn /Units out there in the field flying the Mk III to verify the facts, if you will.

And finally if I may suggest, we also need to throttle back on the scaremongering on just about everything indigenous being absolutely rotten and that only pure imports will be able to save the day. That's perfect talk for perhaps only a banana republic and is a route that leads to trouble. What is needed is a strong industrial complex based in-country (PSU, Private and Joint Ventures) supporting the military. However, that's another discussion!

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Something Dhruv MK1 & 2 also did in past, Thanks for Sharing @bennedose !

However, fudging the statistics and bashing the Dhruv, so as to butress this replacement case is DEAD WRONG. Also, having flown the Mi-17, Cheetah and Dhruv Mk III on the Glacier and in the know of all performance details, I stand by my statement that the Dhruv Mk III FAR outperforms either the Cheetah or any of its intended replacements in terms of performance and handling. Have a word with the boys in the Sqn /Units out there in the field flying the Mk III to verify the facts, if you will.

 

[cobra commando]

ALH Naval Dhruv.

 

[arnabmit]

Dhruv chopper likely to be deployed on-board INS Vikramaditya

Indigenously-built Dhruv helicopter is likely to be deployed on country's largest warship Russian-origin aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya for carrying out the role of detecting hostile submarines.

If inducted, the Advanced Light Helicopter will be the first indigenous system to be integrated on the warship, which so far operates only imported equipment such as the MiG 29K naval combat fighters and the Kamov-31 helicopters.

The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited-built ALH Dhruv is undergoing trials for carrying out role of detecting hostile submarines using systems developed by the DRDO, Defence officials said here.

The system was put under trial at Vishakhapatnam and would be tried further before any final decision is taken on deploying the twin-engine chopper on board the carrier, they said.

===============================================

So ASW Dhruv might be a reality!

 

[cobra commando]

HAL plans to take Dhruv to Latin American market - Financial Express

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Until the big birds comes and take over, Dhruv ASW version can take the role ..

When the replacement will finally arrive in next 8 years in mass, Dhruv deployed on carriers can be redeployed over coastal areas such as Andamans ..

So ASW Dhruv might be a reality!

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Conducting air-launched torpedo tests off Visakhapatnam.

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Components >>

Advanced Light Torpedo TAL

Warhead weight >> 50 kg
Engine >> Electric
Operational range >> 7 km
Maximum depth >> 540 m
Speed >> 33 knots
Launch platform >> Ships, helicopters and submarines

===================

Radar

===================

Sonar

===================

Etc ..

 

[Head Hunter]

Warhead weight >> 50 kg
Engine >> Electric
Operational range >> 7 km
Maximum depth >> 540 m
Speed >> 33 knots
Launch platform >> Ships, helicopters and submarines

The Maximum operating depth of TAL is 400 mts. The figure that you have mentioned above is of the ALWT which is still under development.

 

[Kunal Biswas]

My bad it should be 400ms ..

 

[cobra commando]

Nepal Army seeks two advanced light helicopters from India at subsidised price - The Economic Times

 

[cobra commando]

Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) has received approval to manufacture 32 Dhruv Mk III advanced light helicopters, to be divided equally between the Indian navy and the country's coastguard. Approved by the Indian government's Defense Acquisition Council, the deal is worth around $ 1.19 billion, also including spare parts, maintenance and in-service support. The Indian navy already operates eight Dhruv rotorcrafts, while the coastguard has four, and the first navy squadron to be used for search and rescue and armed patrol tasks was commissioned last November.
Hindustan Aeronautics has delivered almost 150 Dhruv helicopters to India's armed services and paramilitary forces since 2002, the majority flown by its air force and army.
Indian Navy And Coast Guard To Get 32 Dhruv Helicopters

 

[Senior_Miguel]

Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) has received approval to manufacture 32 Dhruv Mk III advanced light helicopters, to be divided equally between the Indian navy and the country's coastguard. Approved by the Indian government's Defense Acquisition Council, the deal is worth around $ 1.19 billion, also including spare parts, maintenance and in-service support. The Indian navy already operates eight Dhruv rotorcrafts, while the coastguard has four, and the first navy squadron to be used for search and rescue and armed patrol tasks was commissioned last November.
Hindustan Aeronautics has delivered almost 150 Dhruv helicopters to India's armed services and paramilitary forces since 2002, the majority flown by its air force and army.
Indian Navy And Coast Guard To Get 32 Dhruv Helicopters

Any news on the timeline?

 

[nandu]

A dhruv crashed in sitapur in UP killing all 7 onboard including pilot and co-pilot.RIP

 

[cobra commando]

HAL to Analyse Black Box of Crashed ALH Dhruv

NEW DELHI: The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited will analyse the black box of Air Force's ALH Dhruv chopper that crashed on Friday, killing seven military personnel including two officers, to find out the exact reasons behind the mishap. "The black box of the chopper would be analysed at an HAL facility in Bangalore to find out the exact reasons behind the crash," Defence sources said here. The data of the black box would be crucial as the pilot had given an emergency call before crashing in Sitapur district of Uttar Pradesh while going to Allahabad from Bareilly, they said. The HAL is the original equipment manufacturer of the ALH Dhruv helicopter. The chopper had taken off from Bareilly at 1553 hours and crashed around 1657 hours after losing radio and radar contact with ground stations. Meanwhile, IAF chief Arup Raha today visited Bareilly to pay homage to the personnel who lost their lives in the crash. A Wing Commander, Squadron Leader, Junior Warrant Officer, Sergeant and an LAC along with two Corporals were killed in the crash.
HAL to Analyse Black Box of Crashed ALH Dhruv - The New Indian Express

 

[venkat]

what could be the reasons behind the ALH crash recently?
1. Failure of two engines ? unlikely...
2, Failure of tail rotor due to breakage, structural fatigue, etc.
3. main rotor blades failure
4. Hydraulics failure
5. electrical power system short circuit
6. helo not responding to stick commands due to link breakage...
7. Bad weather with wind turbulence...
8. failure of transmission gearbox
9. pilot handling error
10. endurance during long flights...
11. low fuel?
what height these pilots were flying at the time of crash..it has flown for one hour or so.....ALH is supposed to be crash-worthy..
RIP to all those killed...A thorough technical probe shold be carried out to restore confidence in ALH.....ofcourse MI-17 also have crashed many a times killing several IAF personnel!!!

 

[anupamsurey]

looks like Dhruv has been grounded, in wake of recent crash in UP, any news ?

 

[Daredevil]

According to Shiv Aroor, all military Dhruv copters grounded 3 weeks & counting. Lifeline for Siachen troops hit.

[tweet]499538405957447680[/tweet]

Looks like a serious issue is plaguing Dhruv.