Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is anticipating new orders for 143 Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH)-Dhruv helicopters from the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force in the upcoming months.
This positive development comes after the state-owned aerospace and defence company successfully addressed specific technical challenges related to the helicopter's wheeled variant, significantly enhancing trust in the platform's operational reliability and capabilities.
The ALH-Dhruv, a versatile, indigenously designed and developed multi-role helicopter, represents a significant achievement in India's native defence manufacturing sector. These anticipated orders are set to propel the total production numbers of the ALH-Dhruv past the landmark figure of 500 units.
Publicly available information indicates that as of June 2024, HAL had manufactured 345 ALH-Dhruv helicopters. An additional order for 34 units was confirmed in March 2024, bringing the existing count of helicopters delivered or in production to 379.
The ALH serves in various capacities, including passenger transport, medical evacuation, reconnaissance, and armed patrol.
The expected new procurement signals robust confidence from the Indian Armed Forces in the ALH-Dhruv. The helicopter platform has undergone consistent upgrades and modernization to cater to the dynamic operational needs of the forces.
HAL's success in resolving prior technical concerns, including issues related to components like control rods that led to previous fleet groundings, highlights its crucial contribution to India's 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' (Self-Reliant India) initiative in the critical aerospace and defence domain.
The resumption of full operations for Army and Air Force variants after thorough checks has bolstered this confidence.
With these forthcoming orders, HAL is set to further enhance its production capabilities, thereby playing a vital role in maintaining the operational preparedness of India's armed services.
Surpassing the 500-unit production threshold will not only be a historic achievement for the ALH-Dhruv program but also a strong validation of HAL's expanding expertise and its capacity to deliver sophisticated aerospace technology, reinforcing India's journey towards self-sufficiency in defence manufacturing.
