Can you back up some official data from anyone of the firms ? ..
The MBB family of helicopters includes an Indian relative. In 1984, Hindustan Aerospace Limited (HAL) of India signed a contract with MBB for development of what was then designated the "Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH)", leading to rollout of a nonflying test airframe in the spring of 1991, and initial flight of the first of five flying prototypes on 30 August 1992. The five prototypes included two engineering validation prototypes, plus one prototype each of army-air force, navy, and civil versions. The production machine was to be given the name of "Dhruv (Polaris / Pole Star)". Deliveries were delayed because of US objections to Indian nuclear tests that blocked delivery of LHTEC CTS800 turboshaft engines, but production machines were finally delivered to the Indian Army in 2002, with deliveries following to other users.
The resemblance of an army-air force Dhruv to the BK 117 is unmistakeable, though the Dhruv is a bigger machine, with an empty weight about 50% greater than that of the BK 117. Otherwise, the two rotorcraft are very similar, with the Dhruv featuring a pod-&-boom / main-tail rotor configuration, clamshell rear doors, skid landing gear, twin swept tailfins, and a four-blade main rotor. It does differ from the BK 117 in featuring a four-bladed tail rotor.
The Dhruv is powered by twin Turbomeca TM333-2B turboshafts, each rated at 788 kW (1,057 SHP). The ultimate goal is to fit the locally-built Ardiden 1H / Shakti turboshaft, built by HAL with Turbomeca assistance, providing 895 kW (1,200 SHP) each for enhanced "hot & high" operation, an important consideration for the Indian Army and Air Force since operations are often conducted in the mountainous northern regions of the country. Composite materials make up a large proportion of the rotorcraft's structure. Fuel tanks are bullet-resistant, crashworthy, and self-sealing.
HAL army Dhruv
Two flight crew are normal, with 12 seats for passengers or 14 seats in a high-density configuration. In the medical role, the Dhruv can fit four stretchers and two medical attendants. Along with the clamshell rear doors, there is a hinged cockpit door and sliding passenger door on each side.
HAL DHRUV (ARMY-AIR FORCE VARIANT):
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spec metric english
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main rotor diameter 13.2 meters 43 feet 4 inches
tail rotor diameter 2.55 meters 8 feet 4 inches
fuselage length 13.43 meters 44 feet 1 inch
footprint length 15.87 meters 52 feet 1 inch
height (tail rotor) 4.98 meters 16 feet 4 inches
height (rotor head) 3.93 meters 12 feet 11 inches
empty weight 2,550 kilograms 5,622 pounds
max loaded weight 4,500 kilograms 9,920 pounds
maximum cruise speed 265 KPH 165 MPH / 145 KT
service ceiling 6,500 meters 21,320 feet
range, 10 passengers 220 kilometers 135 MI / 120 NMI
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The Dhruv can be configured as a gunship, with sensor turret on top of the nose, an undernose turret carrying a 20 millimeter cannon and stores pylons for unguided rockets pods, anti-armor missiles, or air-to-air missiles. It is also possible to mount a light machine gun on a pintle in one or both doors; a defensive countermeasures system can be fitted as well.
The naval / coast guard version of the Dhruv differs from the army-air force version in having wheeled retractable tricycle landing gear -- skid landing gear is inconvenient for shipboard operations -- with the main gear assemblies retracting into sponsons. The naval version also includes a deck harpoon capture fixture; a sonar system; a stores attachment on each side of the fuselage for a torpedo or other munition; and a nose radar. A roof-mounted infrared imager is an option. HAL is working with Israeli Aircraft Industries to develop an unmanned version of the naval Dhruv.
The civil version uses the same wheeled landing gear scheme, but it differs from other versions in being fitted with hinged passenger doors. HAL has worked with Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) on a military export version of the Dhruv, with a full "glass cockpit", a sensor system, a defensive countermeasures system, and an expanded range of offensive stores.
* The Dhruv is being used as the basis for a two-seat helicopter gunship, the "Light Combat Helicopter (LCH)". It is a direct descendant of the Dhruv, essentially taking a Dhruv in gunship configuration -- with undernose 20 millimeter cannon turret, day-night sight on top of the nose, and stores outriggers -- and replacing the normal forward fuselage with a stepped tandem seat fuselage. It features nonretractable wheeled tricycle landing gear. Initial flight of the first prototype was in March 2010. The Indian Air Force and the Indian Army expect to obtain 30 LCH gunship each, with the high power ratings of the engines making them particularly suitable for combat use under "hot and high" conditions.
MBB / Eurocopter Helicopters
