On 30 March 2002, the Defence Minister dedicated the HAL-built Dhruv helicopter to the nation. This dedication marked the culmination of eighteen years of development work under the Advanced Light Helicopter project. The ALH was conceived as a more capable replacement for the aging HAL built Cheetah and Chetak helicopters. The ALH is designed as a multi-role helicopter for both military and civilian uses, with the main demand expected to come from the Indian Armed Forces. Work on the ALH was begun in 1984 with MBB (now Eurocopter Deutschland) as consultants. It was expected that 12 ALHs would be produced for the FY 1999-00, 24 for the FY 2000-01 and thereafter production was expected to stabilize at 36 helicopters per year. However, the imposition of US sanctions against Indian after the nuclear tests of 1998 restricted access to LHTEC 800 - the ALH's intended power-plant. This forced HAL to re-certify the aircraft with the less powerful Turbomeca TM333-2B turbo-shafts, further delaying entry into service. Consequently the program is now approximately two years behind schedule.
On 18 March 2002, the Coast Guard became first service to induct the HAL Dhruv (CG-851) at a ceremony in Bangalore. The Army received its first three Dhruvs (IA-1101, IA-1102 and IA-1103) on 20 March 2002 and the Navy received its first two Dhruvs (IN-701 and IN-702) on 28 March 2002. The Air Force received its first two Dhruvs (J-4041 and J-4042) on 30 March 2002. As of 05 April 2002, eight Dhruvs had been delivered to the armed forces. Half of the Army's 120 ALH order, will be weapons systems integrated with the remaining serving in utility and transport roles. The Naval variant is fitted with sonar/sonic systems, surveillance radar, and tactical mission system. It is also armed with torpedo/depth charges and anti-ship missiles for anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface vessel missions.
The Naval ALH also has a retractable tricycle gear, a folding tail boom, a harpoon deck-lock, pressure refuelling, fairings on fuselage sides to house the main wheels, flotation gear and batteries. The ALH has a four-blade hinge-less main rotor with advanced aero foils and swept back tips, a fibre elastoner rotor head with blades held between a pair of CFRP star-plates, a manual blade folding & rotor brake standard, a four blade bearing-less crossbeam tail rotor on starboard side of fin, a vibration damping by anti-resonance isolation system compromising four isolator elements between the fuselage and the main gearbox, a fixed tail plane and an integrated drive system transmission. In light of the high altitude fighting in Kargil during the summer of 1999, the ALH's hot-and-high performance will be much valued. Indian operations were initially handicapped by the fact that the bulk of the fighting took place in altitudes in excess of 15,000 feet where conventional attack choppers could not be deployed because of performance limitations.
Type: Advanced multi-purpose light helicopter.
Flight Crew: Two.
Passengers: 12 (normal) or 14 in a high-density configuration or six in a VIP layout.
Length: 15.87 meters.
Height: 4.98 meters.
Weights:
Empty - 2502 kg (5511 lbs.)
............Maximum - 4510 kg (9920 lbs.)
Design Features: The ALH has a four-blade hinge-less main rotor with advanced aero foils and swept back tips, a fibre elastoner rotor head with blades held between a pair of CFRP star-plates, a manual blade folding & rotor brake standard, a four blade bearing-less crossbeam tail rotor on starboard side of fin, a vibration damping by anti-resonance isolation system compromising four isolator elements between the fuselage and the main gearbox, a fixed tail plane and an integrated drive system transmission. The Naval ALH also has a retractable tricycle gear, a folding tail boom, a harpoon deck-lock, pressure refuelling, fairings on fuselage sides to house the main wheels, flotation gear and batteries.
Avionics: Communication radio (U/UHF, HF/SSB and standby UHF modes), IFF and intercom. SFIM for axis AFCS, Doppler navigation system, TAS system, radio altimeter and ADF. A weather radar and an Omega navigation system is optional. The Navy and Coast Guard variants feature a surveillance radar, a forward looking infra-red radar, a loud hailer, cabin-mounted gun troop seats and a life raft among other equipment required for various mission requirements.
Engine: Two TM333-2B2 turbo-shafts developing 825 kW (1100 shp) at take-off, with growth potential to 900 kW (1200 shp) for subsequent versions. The Dhruv was originally powered by two Turbomeca TM333-2B turbo-shafts, which was then later switched to the American LHTEC 800 due to better performance. However with the US sanctions, the LHTEC 800 was abandoned and HAL re-established connections with Turbomeca for an engine similar in performance to the LHTEC 800 and chose the TM333-2B2. By February 2002, Turbomeca had delivered 26 of a total of 82 TM333-2B2 turbo-shafts. An MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) was signed on 12 September 2000 between HAL and Turbomeca to develop a more powerful turbo-shaft. Called Shakti in India and Ardiden 1H in France, this new turbo-shaft will be available for flight tests in 2003 and certification by 2005. Around 300 engines are expected to be produced for the Dhruv.
Speed:
Maximum - 290 km/h (180 mph)
..........Maximum cruising speed 253 km/h (157 mph)
Range:
With 1500 kg (3300 lbs.) payload - 216 nautical miles (414 km; 249 miles).
..........With max. fuel & 20 min. reserves - 431 nautical miles
(810 km; 497 miles).
Service Ceiling: 5990 metres (19,680 feet)
Armament: The Air Force variant can carry a 20mm gun plus eight anti-tank guided missiles or four air-to-air missiles or 4 x 68mm rocket pods on outriggers. It can also be used in the utility role. The Army variant, is more or less similar to the Air Force variant in armament and role. In the Naval variant, the Dhruv has two hard-points on the fuselage for torpedoes, depth charges or anti-ship missiles. The helicopter will be used in the search & rescue and utility roles.
Self Defence: Undetermined flare and chaff dispensers.
Important Milestones:
PT1, (Prototype 1): Official first flight - 30 August 1992.
..............................PT2, (Prototype 2): First flight - 08 April 1993.
..............................PTA, (Prototype Army): First flight - 28 May 1994.
..............................PTN, (Prototype Navy): First flight - 26 December 1995.