A dedicated aero-display team called ‘Sarang’ was formed in 2004 for demonstrating the agility and manoeuvrability of Dhruvs

The history and growth of the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is synonymous with the growth of aerospace industry in India over the last 70 years. HAL’s multifaceted capabilities encompass the entire spectrum of aerospace technology covering design, development, manufacture and maintenance of aircraft, helicopters, aero engines, accessories and avionics.

With 19 production units, supported by 10 co-located research and development (R&D) centres, HAL has expertise on a diverse range of military and civil aircraft, providing selfreliance to India’s aerospace capabilities. All the divisions of HAL have ISO 9001-2000 Quality System accreditation.

HAL exports its products and services to several countries and international aerospace leaders. HAL has proven capabilities to offer collaborative arrangements for design, development and production of components and aerostructures with quality, reliability and cost-effectiveness.

Design capabilities, manufacturing skills combined with competitive pricing, prompt deliveries and ideal location at the crossroads of all aviation routes in Asia make HAL a valuable partner for challenging programmes in aerospace and related fields.

HAL has consistently been recognised by the Engineering Export Promotion Council of India for its export efforts and is a recipient of “Exporters Shield” every year since 1994.

The manufacture of helicopters in HAL dates back to 1962. Helicopter Division, a separate division for the manufacture of helicopters, was established in July 1974. The Helicopter Division has manufactured more than 600 Cheetah (Lama SA 315 B), Chetak (Allouette III) and Cheetal Helicopters till date. The Lancer, a light attack helicopter, derivative of proven Cheetah, has also been developed by HAL. The advanced light helicopter (ALH) Dhruv is the latest new generation helicopter designed and developed by HAL, which is under production since 2002. So far, HAL has produced more than 100 Dhruvs.

Dhruv

The Dhruv is a multi-role multi-mission new generation helicopter in the 5.5-tonne weight class to meet Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR). It is designed to meet the requirements of both civil and military operations. Civil Dhruvs have been certified in both wheeled and skid configurations.

The helicopter is powered by two Turbomeca TM 333/2B2 Shakti engines with sufficient power margins for single engine performance and CAT ‘A’ take off and landing capability. Use of two engines help provide increased safety and allows continued flight till safe landing.

The Dhruv with hingeless main rotor system provided excellent handling qualities including good Nap of the Earth (NOE) performance due to its high rotor moment capability and fast control response.

The Dhruv is ideally suited for rapid deployment due to its high speed capability. Its large fuel capacity enables longrange and endurance. Provision for fitment of auxiliary fuel tank enhances the range and endurance further.

The Dhruv has been designed for both utility and armed roles. It has been designed to land on ships under high seastate conditions and on small/restricted helipads.

The helicopter is ideally suited for VIP/VVIP transport, search and rescue, offshore operation, disaster relief EMS and police roles.