NEW DELHI - The Indian government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has cleared the way for a purchase of 32 locally-built Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopters (ALHs) from state aerospace giant Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL). The clearance was given at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), the highest approval body for military procurement in India and headed by the prime minister.
The new batches of Dhruv ALHs will be assigned equally to the Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard, each receiving 16 helicopters. Both services already operate some ALHs, with the Navy deploying its Dhruvs in Kochi at its base INS Garuda and the Coast Guard utilizing its at several bases for undertaking search-and-rescue (SAR) and coastal surveillance missions.
However, both services are suffering from a shortage of rotor-wing capacity - the Indian Navy in particular. The latest order (estimated at around $123 million) will provide the Navy with additional heft to fill capability gaps created by the failure of the government to close on outstanding deals. The Navy will use the new models to conduct SAR, armed patrol, VIP ferrying and transport missions and plans to equip them with low frequency sonars that will be developed by the service in tandem with the state-run Defense Research Development Organization (DRDO).
First delivery is expected in 2020 with all units scheduled for handover by 2022.
You have 0 item(s) in your cart