DTN News - SPECIAL REPORT: Indian Indigenous ALH Dhruv Helicopter - Faces Several Up Heals, But Still Flying....NSI News Source Info # 1425

DTN News - SPECIAL REPORT: Indian Indigenous ALH Dhruv Helicopter - Faces Several Up Heals, But Still Flying....NSI News Source Info # 1425

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - January 14, 2011: The Indian Army have inducted 40 more utility variant of the Dhruv advanced light helicopter (ALH) manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) from 2008.

The Helicopter Division of the government-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has developed the Dhruv (Pole Star) advanced light helicopter (ALH), a light (5.5t class) multi-role and multi-mission helicopter for army, air force, navy, coast guard and civil operations for both utility and attack roles by day and night.

The helicopter, which is built to FAR 29 specifications, entered series production in 2000. 18 Dhruv helicopters were delivered to Indian Defence Forces in 2000-2003, eight to the army, three to the navy, four to the air force and three to the coast guard. The army received its first three Dhruvs in March 2002. By June 2008, 76 helicopters had been delivered to the Indian army and air force with 159 more on order. The Indian Navy has decided not to place any further orders.

The fleet of the Indian Air Force Display Team, Sarang (Peacock in English) includes the Dhruv helicopters.

In June 2008, HAL received the first export order for the Dhruv - seven helicopters for the air force of Ecuador.

In August 2006, Indian Air Force and Coast Guard Dhruv helicopters were instrumental in rescue operations after devastating floods in India. Over 500 people were rescued.

In February 2007, the Dhruv was qualified for high-altitude / low-temperature operations in Kashmir and Jammu.

In August 2007, maiden flights took place of the Dhruv powered by the new Shakti engine and of the weaponised variant of the helicopter. And In September 2007, the Indian Army announced that the Dhruv was ready for deployment to the Siachen sector in the Himalayas. The helicopter was deployed to the high-altitude airbase at Manasbal (Srinagar) and, in October 2007, a Dhruv helicopter flew at a record altitude of 27,500ft in Siachen. The armed variant is scheduled for initial operating capability in December 2009.

The helicopter has a twin-engine configuration allowing continued flight virtually throughout the flight envelope. The advanced technologies incorporated in the Dhruv design include automatic flight control, anti-resonance vibration isolation system (ARI), full authority digital electronic control (FADEC), hingeless main rotor, bearingless tail rotor, and an automatic flight control system.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and Israel Aircraft Industries have an agreement to market the Dhruv helicopter worldwide. IAI has developed an integrated helicopter avionics suite for the Dhruv, which includes day-and-night observation, electronic warfare suite, observation and targeting, and a flexible weapons carrying system.

http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.com/2011/01/dtn-news-special-report-indian.html