Indian Military

Dhruv
Dhruv helicopter of the Indian Air Force Sarang Helicopter Display Team arriving at RIAT 2008, England.
Role	Multirole helicopter
National origin	India
Manufacturer	Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
First flight	August 20, 1992
Introduced	2002
Status	Active
Primary users	Indian Army Indian Air Force Indian Navy Ecuadorian Air Force
Produced	90 in service + over 450 on order
Unit cost	USD 8 mn (Rs 30-35 crore - basic version)
Variants	HAL Light Combat Helicopter

The HAL Dhruv (Sanskrit: ध्रुव, "Pole Star") 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. The helicopter was first exported to Nepal and Israel, and is on order by several other countries for both military and commercial uses. Military versions in production are for transport, utility, reconnaissance and MedEvac roles.

The HAL Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) is a helicopter gunship based on the Dhruv platform. A naval version for anti-submarine operations was proposed, but has been dropped.

Contents 1 Development 2 Design 2.1 Cockpit 3 Operational history 3.1 Military service 3.2 Civilian service 3.3 Foreign sales 4 Operators 4.1 Military operators 4.2 Civil operators 5 Incidents 6 Specifications (Dhruv)

Development

Hindustan's Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) 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 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, followed by a second civil aircraft (Z-3183), an Army version (Z-3268) and a navalised prototype (N.901) with Allied Signal CTS800 engines and a retractable tricycle undercarriage.Even after the first prototype flew in August 1992, problems arose due to the changing demands of the Indian military, funding, and contractual issues with Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm, which was the consultant for design. Further delay was caused by U.S. sanctions after Indian nuclear tests in 1998, which embargoed the engine originally intended to power the helicopter. Then the helicopter used Turbomeca TM 333-2B2 turboshaft producing 746 kW (1000 shp) each and an agreement was signed with Turbomeca to develop a more powerful engine.

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 Dhruv entering production use the more powerful Shakti engine developed jointly by HAL and Turbomeca. The first test flight of the Dhruv with the new engine and the weaponised version took place on 16 August 2007.

Design

HAL Dhruv is of conventional design and about two-thirds by weight of composite construction. The high tail boom allows easy access to the rear clamshell loading doors.The four-bladed hingeless main rotor can be manually folded. The blades are mounted between cruciform-shaped carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic plates on a fibre elastomer constructed rotor head. The helicopter is equipped with an active vibration control system developed by Lord Corporation of North Carolina that uses sensors to monitor on-board conditions and outputs signals to actuators to cancel fuselage floor vibrations.

Cockpit

The cockpit section of the fuselage is of Kevlar and carbon-fibre construction and is fitted with crashworthy seats.The aircraft is equipped with a SFIM Inc. four-axis automatic flight control system. The navigation suite includes a global positioning system, a Doppler navigation system, distance measuring equipment, a true air speed indicator, automatic direction finder, a heading reference system, radio altimeter, VHF omnidirectional ranger and instrument landing system (VOR/ILS) and marker beacons. The communications suite includes HF, UHF, and VHF radio communications.

Operational history

Military service

Deliveries of the Dhruv commenced in 2002, a full ten years after the prototype's first flight, and nearly twenty years after the program was initiated. The Indian Coast Guard became the first service to bring Dhruv helicopters into service. This was followed by the Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force and the Border Security Force. Seventy five Dhruvs were delivered to the Indian armed forces by 2007 and the plan is to produce forty helicopters yearly. One of only three helicopter display teams in the world, the Sarang aerobatic display team of the Indian Air Force performs with four Dhruv helicopters.

The Dhruv 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 Dhruv was cleared for high-altitude flying in the Siachen Sector after six-month long trials.. In October 2007, a Dhruv flew to an altitude of 27,500 feet (8,400 m) ASL in Siachen. This was the highest that the Dhruv had flown, and was higher than the 25,000 feet (7,600 m) record set by an IAF Cheetah helicopter in 2005.

A further order for 166 helicopters were placed with HAL since the helicopter is working well in higher altitude areas with the Indian Army. The Armed Forces may order 12 ambulances versions for use by the Armed Forces Medical Services for MEDEVAC operations . HAL Dhruv ambulances will have all the emergency medical equipment for the treatment of injured soldiers.

In June 2008, the Hindustan Times reported that the Indian Navy had decided against placing further orders for the Dhruv Naval variant, stating it has failed to meet basic operational requirements. However these rumours were put to rest by the recent comments of the defence minister who stated in the parliament that the navy had not rejected the dhruv as eight Dhruv helicopters are already operating in the Utility role. The Anti-submarine version will not be inducted since it did not suit the requirements of the Indian Navy in anti-submarine role.

Civilian service

HAL also produces a civilian variant of the Dhruv 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). Chief Test Pilot Wing Commander Upadhyay said the helicopters will have a full set of medical equipment, including ventilators and two stretchers.

Other buyers include the Geological Survey of India (GSI) (1 Helicopter), ONGC for its offshore operations, as well as state governments for VIP transport and policing.

Foreign sales

The 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 Dhruv.

With a unit price at least 15% less than its rivals, Dhruv has elicited interest in many countries, mostly from Latin America, Africa, West Asia, South East Asia and the Pacific Rim nations. Air forces from around 35 countries have sent in their inquiries, , along with requests for demonstrations.

The first foreign orders for the Dhruv were placed by Nepal in early 2004, for 2 Dhruvs. Another Dhruv, a civilian version, was leased to the Israeli Defense Ministry in 2004

In June 2008, the government of Peru ordered two air ambulance Dhruvs for use by the Peruvian health services. Peru has also shown interest in the military version Dhruv.

HAL also secured an order from the Ecuadorian Air Force for seven Dhruvs. HAL has gained this order amidst strong competition from Elbit, Eurocopter and Kazan. HAL’s offer of $ 50.7 million for seven helicopters was about 32% lower than the second lowest bid from Elbit. Five helicopters will be delivered in February 2009, during the Aero India 2009. The remaining two helicopters will be delivered within six months Ecuadorian Army and Ecuadorian Navy have also expressed unofficial interest in purchasing the helicopter.

Dhruv also participated in a Chilean tender for eight to ten 5.5 tonne, twin engined new generation helicopter, but lost to the Bell Helicopters Bell 412 amid allegations of arm-twisting by the US Government. The evaluation included flights at high altitudes, hot and desert conditions, ship deck landing, search and rescue at 12,500 feet (3,800 m) MSL at a temperature of 2°C as well as long distance ferry flights, clocking 107 flying hours.

On August 10, 2008 HAL chairman confirmed it had finalized a deal with Turkey to supply 3 Dhruvs for $20 million. Turkey is planning to buy as many as 17 helicopters in medical assistance role.

India is also reportedly planning to transfer several Dhruvs to Burma. This led to protests from Amnesty International, who pointed to the use of components sourced from European suppliers as a possible violation of the EU Arms Embargo of Burma. In a letter to the President of the EU Council of Ministers, Amnesty stated that it had evidence that India planned to transfer two Dhruvs (with European components) to Burma. These reports have been denied by the Indian Government.

HAL is negotiating with Bolivia for delivery of five Dhruvs and with Venezuela for seven of the choppers in transport roles, and in Europe. The Dhruv is also being offered to Malaysia. Indonesia is also evaluating Dhruv helicopters for the Indonesian Army.

Flight certification for Europe and North America is also being planned, in order to tap the large civilian market there.

Operators

Military operators

 India

• Indian Army Aviation Corps
• Indian Air Force (~35)
• Indian Navy (8)
• Indian Coast Guard (9)
• Border Security Force (8 Ordered)
• Central Reserve Police Force (10)

 Burma

• Myanmar Air Force (speculated transfer or plan to transfer although no proof exists)

 Israel

• Ministry of Defense (1)

 Nepal

• Nepalese Army Air Service (4)

 Bolivia

• Bolivian Air Force (2 on order)

 Ecuador

• Ecuadorian Air Force (7) + 2 on order

 Turkey

• Turkish Armed Forces (air ambulance - 3 on order)

 Suriname

• Surinamese National Army - 3 on order

 Mauritius

• Mauritius Police Force

 Maldives

• National Defence Force - 1 on order

Civil operators

 India

• Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) (3)
• Chhattisgarh State Government
• Jharkhand State Government for VIP transportation and Police (2)
• Karnataka State Government for VIP transportation (1)
• Geological Survey of India (GSI) (1 on order)
• National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) (12 on order)

 Peru

• Peruvian health services (2 on order)

Incidents

• In 2005, the entire ALH Dhruv fleet had been grounded for several months after an incident in Andhra Pradesh and the subsequent probe had found a fault with the tail rotor blades of the helicopters

• On February 2, 2007, during rehearsals before Aero India, a HAL Dhruv of the Sarang helicopter display team of the Indian Air Force crashed, killing its co-pilot Sqn Ldr Priye Sharma and wounding the pilot Wg Cdr Vikas Jetley. The accident was later found to have been caused by pilot error. The helicopter team continued to perform in the air show.

• In 2009, a Dhruv helicopter of the Ecuadorian Air Force hit the ground after veering off course while flying in formation with two other helicopters over an air force base near Quito. Air force general Leonardo Barreiro told reporters that the helicopter had been destroyed in the crash. The remaining six aircraft where grounded pending an investigation.Investigations however concluded that the crash occured due to pilot error.

• In 2010, a Dhruv helicopter team of the Indian Air Force was forced to make a crash landing while rehearsing for the "Vayu Shakti" air power show. An IAF offical is quouted as saying "Both pilots are safe after they had to make a controlled crash-landing due to loss of power in the chopper"^.

Specifications (Dhruv)

General characteristics

• Crew: 1 or 2 pilots
• Capacity: 4-12 passengers
• Length: 15.87 m (52 ft 0.8 in)
• Rotor diameter: 13.20 m (43 ft 3.7 in)
• Height: 4.05 m (12 ft 4 in)
• Disc area: 137 m² (1,472 ft²)
• Empty weight: 2,502 kg (5,515 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 5,500 kg (12,125 lb)
• Powerplant: 2× Shakti turboshafts, 900 kW (1,200 shp)
  Alternate engine: 2x Turbomeca TM 333-2B2 turboshafts of 746 kW (1,000 shp) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 280 km/h (175 mph, 150 kn)
• Combat radius: 320 km (200 mi, 175 nmi)
• Ferry range: 827 km (516 mi, 447 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 8382 m (27,500 ft)
• Rate of climb: 8.9 m/s (1,771 ft/min)
• Power/mass: 329.73 W/kg (0.20 hp/lb)

Armament

• Missiles: **8 Anti-tank guided missiles
  • 4 Air-to-air missiles
  • 4 x 68 mm Rocket Pods (Air-Force & Army)
  • 2 Torpedoes
  • Depth charges or Anti-ship missiles

 

Related development

• HAL Light Combat Helicopter
• HAL Light Observation Helicopter

Comparable aircraft

• AgustaWestland AW139
• Bell 412
• Bell 429
• Eurocopter EC 145
• Kazan Ansat
• MD Helicopters MD Explorer
• Sikorsky S-76