India has been among the world's largest importers of arms for decades - however, things seem to be changing, as other nations have shown interest in obtaining military software from New Delhi.
As the Philippines are interested in acquiring AHL Mk III helicopters from India, Sputnik India explores how many Dhruv helicopters does India have in service and what are they capable of.
Developed by India's defense behemoth Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the AHL Mk III is the most advanced and latest variant of the country's Dhruv helicopter, which falls in the 5.5-ton class of choppers.
India-Philippine Defense Ties Find Another Gear
This report comes just after the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Coast Guards of the two Asian sovereign states.
The MoU strengthens the two nations' military relations by allowing them to share information, especially concerning maritime cooperation.
This helps the two maritime forces in gathering intelligence as well as increasing surveillance and reconnaissance activities
Following the development, the Indian Ambassador to the Philippines Shambhu Mumaran, noted: "Maritime is a bridge that connects our very ocean-reliant economies…. We have identified maritime affairs as the focus of our relationships. There has been no structured cooperation between the coastguards."
Notably, this was the Phillipines' coast guard chief's primary official tour to India. During Admiral Artemio Manalo Abu's visit to Goa the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) carried out a display flight of the ALH MK III to showcase its prowess.
How Many Dhruv Helicopters Does Indian Army Have?
By October 2022 the state-run aerospace major Hindustan Aeronautics Limited has produced 336 Dhruv helicopters. The defense firm produced their first chopper in 2001.
They are in service with the Indian Navy, the IAF, the Army, and the Coast Guard.
Following a string of unfortunate accidents, the Indian Army halted the operations of Dhruv helicopters for over a month in May 2023. Some metallurgy and design flaws were discovered and improved upon during the safety audit. The Choppers were back in service shorty after.
Soldiers take position while performing a drill after alighting from an HAL Dhruv helicopter during an Army weaponry exhibition in Kolkata. (File)
© AFP 2023 DIBYANGSHU SARKAR
What is the Use of Dhruv Helicopters?
The domestically produced twin-engine helicopter is specifically designed to conduct a variety of roles, particularly reconnaissance and surveillance activities around coastal areas and on the seas.
As per the HAL, the chopper is capable of flying in all-weather situations, including night operations, and can deliver "exceptional performance" in high-altitude areas.
What is The Unique Selling Proposition of Dhruv Helicopters?
The ALH Mk III's are primarily used for surveillance and allegedly have the longest range among helicopters. The radar is said to be able to track enemy vessels from as far as 120 nautical miles.
Moreover, the chopper has a powerful electro-optical sensor that helps it detect large or small ships sailing within 55 miles; and the ALH Mk III is fitted with a 12.7 mm cabin-mounted gun to conduct armed missions.
Moreover, the chopper has a powerful electro-optical sensor that helps it detect large or small ships sailing within 55 miles; and the ALH Mk III is fitted with a 12.7 mm cabin-mounted gun to conduct armed missions.
The ALH Mk III features an array of modern equipment, including advanced glass cockpits, state-of-the-art navigation and communication systems, and an advanced vibration control network.
The helicopter comes with an array of other gizmos as well, some of the more noteworthy ones are the Sonar Locator Beacon, the Emergency Floatation Gear, the Automatic Identification System, the Traffic Collision Avoidance System, the Automatically Deployable Emergency Locator Transmitter, and Harpoon system.