News Analysis India

Tag: Advanced Light Helicopter

  • Army helicopter crashes in Arunachal Pradesh, search operations on

    By Express News Service

    GUWAHATI: An Army helicopter crashed in the mountainous Arunachal Pradesh on Friday morning.

    Defence sources said the incident occurred at Migging near Tuting in Upper Siang district at 10:43 am. Search operations were in progress, the sources added.

    It was not immediately known how many people were on board the chopper.  In viral videos, plumes of smoke can be seen rising from a mountain.

    Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) crashed near the Tuting area in Arunachal Pradesh’s Upper Siang district today at around 10:40 am today, according to Defence PRO, Guwahati.

    Jummar Basar, Superintendent of Police Upper Siang, told ANI over the phone, “The site of the accident is not connected through the road. A rescue team has been rushed and all other details are awaited.”

    Earlier on October 5 this year, an Indian Army pilot lost his life in a Cheetah helicopter crash near the Tawang area of Arunachal Pradesh.

    “The Cheetah helicopter flying in forwarding areas near Tawang crashed at around 10:00 AM during a routine sortie. Both the pilots were evacuated to the nearest Military Hospital,” Army officials had said.

    (With inputs from ANI)

    GUWAHATI: An Army helicopter crashed in the mountainous Arunachal Pradesh on Friday morning.

    Defence sources said the incident occurred at Migging near Tuting in Upper Siang district at 10:43 am. Search operations were in progress, the sources added.

    It was not immediately known how many people were on board the chopper.  In viral videos, plumes of smoke can be seen rising from a mountain.

    Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) crashed near the Tuting area in Arunachal Pradesh’s Upper Siang district today at around 10:40 am today, according to Defence PRO, Guwahati.

    Jummar Basar, Superintendent of Police Upper Siang, told ANI over the phone, “The site of the accident is not connected through the road. A rescue team has been rushed and all other details are awaited.”

    Earlier on October 5 this year, an Indian Army pilot lost his life in a Cheetah helicopter crash near the Tawang area of Arunachal Pradesh.

    “The Cheetah helicopter flying in forwarding areas near Tawang crashed at around 10:00 AM during a routine sortie. Both the pilots were evacuated to the nearest Military Hospital,” Army officials had said.

    (With inputs from ANI)

  • Navy converts its all-weather chopper into air ambulance for critical patients’ evacuation

    By PTI
    PANAJI: The Indian Navy has augmented its capacity to evacuate critical patients even in unfavourable weather conditions by fitting a medical intensive care unit (MICU) on-board an Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) at Goa’s naval air station INS Hansa, an official said.

    The MICU has been installed on-board ALH Mk-III from INAS 323 at INS Hansa by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), a naval spokesman said in a media statement issued here.

    “With ALH Mk-III, an all-weather aircraft, being equipped with MICU, the Indian Navy can now undertake medical evacuation of critical patients by air even in unfavourable weather conditions,” he said.

    A Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) has been installed onboard ALH Mk III from INAS 323 at #INSHansa #Goa by HAL. The #IndianNavy can now undertake medical evacuation of critical patients by air even in unfavourable weather conditions.@indiannavy @SpokespersonMoD @HALHQBLR pic.twitter.com/nzZfVpPZsR
    — PRO Defence Mumbai (@DefPROMumbai) May 30, 2021

    The MICU has two sets of defibrillators, multipara monitors, ventilator, oxygen support as well as infusion and syringe pumps, he added.

    “It also has a suction system to clear secretions in the mouth or airway of the patient.

    The system can be operated on aircraft power supply and also has a battery back up of four hours,” the spokesman said.

    According to him, the equipment can be installed in two-three hours to convert the aircraft into an air ambulance.

    “This is the first of eight MICU sets to be delivered by HAL to Indian Navy,” he added.

  • HAL’s Dhruv Mk III MR registers success in deck operations

    By Express News Service
    BENGALURU: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s (HAL) Advanced Light Helicopter Dhruv Mk III MR has successfully demonstrated its deck-operations capabilities that include landing on the deck, folding of blades and storing the helicopter inside the onboard hangar.

    A statement from HAL said the recently concluded ship-borne trials off Chennai coast, in collaboration with the Indian Coast Guard, also covered maintenance activities inside the hangar and on the deck, hot refuelling with engines running on the deck. HAL had recently delivered ALH Dhruv Mk III MR to the Indian Coast Guard as part of its 16 ALH contract.

    HAL CMD R Madhavan said the trials have proven the capability of ALH Dhruv to carry out extended operations from ships. Some of the missions that were successfully executed were surveillance, search and rescue, anti-pollution to address oil spillage.

    “With the successful demonstration of these capabilities, like blade folding, stowage, the helicopter is now ready to be fielded for operations,” he stated. Dhruv Mk III MR is equipped with the modern surveillance radar that can detect and identify ships and boats up to a range of 120 nautical miles to enable the Indian Coast Guard in its duty to secure the nation from threats.

  • Indian Navy’s first unit of indigenously-built Advanced Light Helicopters enters service

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: Indian Naval Air Squadron 323 (INAS 323), Navy’s first unit of the indigenously-built Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Mk III, was commissioned at INS Hansa, Goa.

    Speaking on the occasion, junior Defence Minister Shripad Naik, said “The commissioning of INAS 323 marked yet another milestone in the efforts towards enhancing maritime security and safeguarding maritime interests of the nation. It also embodies the spirit of Atma Nirbhar Bharat.” Vice Admiral R Hari Kumar, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Western Naval Command was present on the occasion.

    Commander Samik Nundy is the commissioning Commanding Officer of INAS 323. He is an accomplished ALH pilot with extensive operational experience. The squadron will operate three state-of-the-art ALH Mk III.

    In all, 16 aircraft are under procurement and the aircraft are being delivered in a phased manner to the Indian Navy. It is a multirole helicopter with a Shakti engine manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The Mk III version of the ALH has an all-glass cockpit and will be used for Search and Rescue, Special Operations and Coastal Surveillance.

    India is trying to decrease its dependency on imported weapons and equipment by making changes to policies to support purchases from domestic manufacturers. Marking a major shift this year the Defence Ministry has decided to earmark around 64% (Rs 70,000 crore) of its modernisation funds under the capital acquisition budget for 2021-22 for procurement from the Indian manufacturers. 

  • HAL hands over 5 Advanced Light Helicopters to Navy, Coast Guard

    By Express News Service
    BENGALURU:  Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) on Friday handed over three Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH Mk III) to Indian Navy and two ALHs to Indian Coast Guard as part of its 16 ALHs contract. 

    The helicopters were handed over by HAL CMD R Madhavan to Chief of Navy Staff Admiral Karambir Singh and DG of Coast Guard K Natarajan in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh during the Aero India 2021.

    “The remaining helicopters as per the contract are under various stages of production, flight tests and we plan to deliver all the helicopters within the contract delivery schedules despite production slowdown due to COVID restrictions,” Madhavan stated. 

    The ALH Mk III is fitted with a state-of-the-art glass cockpit and powerful Shakti engine.

    Army variant of HAL’S Light Utility Helicopter gets clearance

    The HAL’s Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) received the Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) for the Indian Army from CEMILAC on Friday. The LUH is a 3-ton class new generation single-engine helicopter indigenously designed and developed by Rotary Wing Research and Design Centre of HAL with features suitable for operations in the diverse operating conditions unique to India. The LUH will replace the ageing fleet of Cheetah/Chetak helicopters operated by the Services. 

  • Hindustan Aeronautics hands over Advanced Light Helicopters to Indian Navy and Coast Guard

    By PTI
    BENGALURU: State-run aerospace behemoth Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) on Friday said it has handed over three Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH Mk III) to the Indian Navy and two to Indian Coast Guard as part of its 16 helicopter contract at the ongoing Aero India.

    The company also said its Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) received the Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) for the Indian Army from Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC). The ALHs were handed over by R Madhavan, CMD, HAL to Admiral Karambir Singh, Chief of Naval Staff and K Natarajan, DG, Coast Guard in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

    “The remaining helicopters from the contract are under various stages of production, flight tests and we plan to deliver all the helicopters within the contract delivery schedules despite production slowdown due to COVID restrictions,” Madhavan said.

    ALH has clogged close to 3,00,000 cumulative flight hours and proven its mettle in versatile operations, HAL said. The ALH Mk III is fitted with a state-of-the-art Glass cockpit and powerful Shakti engine, it said, adding that the contract involves integration of 19 major systems with the existing ALH MK III.

    Regarding LUH, Madhavan said thrust is being given by HAL for indigenous R&D programmes towards self-reliance and enhancing operational effectiveness of Armed Forces. The LUH is a 3-ton class new generation single engine helicopter indigenously designed and developed by Rotary Wing Research and Design Centre of HAL with features suitable for operations in the diverse operating conditions unique to India.

    The LUH will replace the ageing fleet of Cheetah/ Chetak helicopters operated by the Services. According to Arup Chatterjee, Director (Engg.and R&D), performance of the basic helicopter in all terrains and under all weather conditions is satisfactory.

    HAL is currently in the phase of integrating and flight-testing mission role equipment on LUH, and the company is fully geared up to fulfill the requirements of customers in a time bound manner. The LUH is powered by a single turbo shaft engine Ardiden 1U from M/s.

    Safran Helicopter Engine (SHE), France with adequate power margins to accomplish high altitude missions in Himalayas with ease. HAL said LUH is equipped with Smart Cockpit Display System (Glass Cockpit), state-of-the-art HUMS (Health & Usage Monitoring System) and is designed for various utility and armed roles.

    The company said it has also received the Provisional Certificate of Engine and Flight Display Unit, (EFDU) indigenously developed for Jaguar DARIN III fighter aircraft platform.