The HAL Dhruv is a multi-role helicopter developed and manufactured by India's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited HAL. It is being supplied to the Indian Armed Forces, and a civilian variant is also available
Hindustan's Advanced Light Helicopter ALH dhruv program was first announced in November 1984,the ALHwas designed with assistance from MBB in Germany. The twin 1000 shp Turbomeca TM333-2B turboshafts are mounted above the cabin and drive a four-blade composite main rotor. The ALH Advanced Light Helicopter dhruv makes use of an advanced integrated dynamic system which combines several rotor control features into an integrated module. The civil prototype ALH (Z-3182) first flew on 23 August 1992, at Bangalore
HAL is also developing the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) based on the Dhruv platform for the Indian Armed Forces. It will have stub wings fitted to carry up to eight anti-armour missiles, four air-to-air missiles or four rocket pods for 70mm and 68mm rockets. The LCH will also have FLIR (Forward Looking Infrared), CCD (Charge Coupled Device) camera and a target acquisition system with thermal sight and laser rangefinder.
Recent versions of the HAL Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter ALH entering production use the more powerful Shakti engine developed jointly by HAL and Turbomeca. The first test flight of the HAL Dhruv with the new engine and the weaponised version took place on 16 August 2007
The HAL Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter ALH is capable of flying at high altitudes, a crucial requirement for the Army, which requires helicopters for operations in Siachen Glacier and Kashmir. In September 2007, the HAL Dhruv was cleared for high-altitude flying in the Siachen Sector after six-month long trials. In October 2007, a HAL Dhruv flew to an altitude of 27,500 feet (8,400 m) ASL in Siachen. This was the highest that the HAL Dhruv had flown, and was higher than the 25,000 feet (7,600 m) record set by an IAF Cheetah helicopter in 2005
HAL DHRUV also produces a civilian variant of the HAL Dhruv ALH Advanced Light Helicopter for VIP transport, rescue, policing, offshore operations and air-ambulance role, among others The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has placed an order for 12 Advanced Light Helicopters ALH with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited HAL
The Advanced Light Helicopter ALH HAL Dhruv has become the first major Indian weapons system to have secured large foreign sales. HAL hopes to sell 120 Dhruvs over the next eight years, and has been displaying the Dhruv at airshows, including Farnborough and Paris in order to market the HAL Dhruv
