HAL's Ambitious IMRH Project to Replace Mi-17 Fleet May Face Hurdles After Series of ALH-Dhruv Accidents and Groundings

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)'s Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv, a cornerstone of India's indigenous helicopter program, has encountered a series of operational setbacks and accidents, raising concerns about HAL's upcoming Indian Multi-Role Helicopter (IMRH) project.

The ALH-Dhruv, in service with the Indian military since 2002, has been deployed in various roles, including troop transport and search and rescue. However, the helicopter has faced scrutiny due to multiple accidents, some fatal, attributed to issues such as metallurgical flaws in critical components and design and maintenance challenges. These incidents have led to temporary groundings of the fleet, prompting safety reviews and modifications.

The IMRH project, envisioned as a 13-ton medium-lift helicopter to replace the aging Mi-17 fleets, aims to fulfill domestic demand and capture international market share. However, the ALH-Dhruv's troubled history has cast a shadow over the IMRH's prospects.

Concerns include skepticism among military users regarding HAL's ability to deliver a reliable high-performance helicopter, potentially impacting the IMRH's acceptance. The ALH-Dhruv's problems also highlight potential challenges in design, material selection, and technological integration for the larger and more complex IMRH, potentially leading to delays or design revisions.

Furthermore, the ALH-Dhruv's development was marked by delays and cost overruns due to extensive testing and modifications. This history may lead to increased caution among stakeholders, potentially slowing down funding and project milestones for the IMRH.

Internationally, the ALH-Dhruv's issues have affected HAL's reputation, potentially limiting the IMRH's export potential, a key aspect of HAL's strategy. Despite these challenges, HAL has taken steps to address the ALH-Dhruv's problems, including replacing aluminium control rods with steel ones to improve safety. For the IMRH, HAL is collaborating with global partners like Safran for engine technology and emphasizing rigorous testing protocols.

The IMRH's success hinges not only on technological innovation but also on HAL's ability to restore confidence in its manufacturing and quality assurance processes. Rebuilding trust among military and international buyers will be crucial for the IMRH to overcome the legacy of its predecessor.

 

[Somebody]

Need to find the root cause for control rod failure.

 

[SK]

I hope thar HAL develops a next Gen version of HAL Dhruv that is able to resolve all these problems.

 

[Deepak Hegde]

It's been 22 years since the ALH Dhruv was inducted by the forces. One can understand glitches in any new product and the need to fix them within a reasonable period, say within 6-8 years of use. But HAL's reluctance to accept the flaws and find the root cause is the reason for the current situation with HAL and the forces. By brushing the issues under the carpet and forcing the forces to use Dhruv under the name of indigenous solutions, the government is equally responsible. What HAL and the Government of India don't realize is that they are not only destroying the product but also their reputation as an organization and a country, and their chances for the future. Already countries like Nigeria have backed out of negotiations for even Tejas. For sure, these issues are going to cloud the chances of acceptance of IMRH by any foreign customers!

 

[siva saba]

Initially they thought aluminium rod were the culprit Aircraft maker Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) changed new booster control rods made of steel instead of aluminium to ALH squadrons across the country,
Now the same failure is continuing. Sudden drop like engine snag. need to find out the root cause

 

[Muthukumar Ponnambalam]

Find out who are the cause of the metallurgical flaws and design and maintenance flaws and screw them.

This is why we need the f-ing industry - academia joint consortium. That would've made sure to have identified these flaws in the design table itself. That's how US has been working ALL the time and that's why it dominates.

 

[Narayan Swami]

HAL is a PSU that has gotten fat and lazy after monopolizing IAF orders for decades. The control issue was surfaced by Ecuador a decade ago. HAL choose to ignore this design flaw since it would be "too costly" to fix. That is an approach only a third rate firm would adopt. The path forward is no "fraught with challenges" but rather fraught with incompetence and a culture of no accountability. Hope HAL can change its operating culture from "babudom" to "competitor", otherwise GOI should unbundle HAL and sell it to the highest Indian bidder.