HAL Dhruv
ALH Dhruv
The indigenous workhorse flown by every Indian service.
Operated by Indian Air Force, Indian Army and Indian Navy.
About the Dhruv
The HAL Dhruv is a utility helicopter designed and developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in November 1984. The helicopter first flew in 1992; though its development was prolonged due to multiple factors including the Indian Army's requirement for design changes, budget restrictions, and sanctions placed on India following the 1998 Pokhran-II nuclear tests. The HAL Dhruv entered operational service in 2002.
Service history
Design began at HAL in 1984 and certification followed in 2002 after a long development compounded by post-Pokhran sanctions that cut off the intended engine. The Dhruv now serves the Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard, and its airframe underpins the armed Rudra and the Prachand attack helicopter. Fleet-wide groundings after control-system failures have dogged its service record.
Combat edge
Flown by all three services and the Coast Guard
Hingeless composite main rotor
Basis for the Rudra and Prachand attack helicopters
Proven in Siachen high-altitude rescue work
Operations
Named operations this catalogue records HAL Dhruv as having taken part in.
- June 2019 — presentCombatOperation SankalpEscorting Indian-flagged shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, continuously since 2019.
- April – May 2015Humanitarian reliefOperation MaitriFirst responders on the ground within six hours of the Gorkha earthquake.
- 13 April 1984 — presentCombatOperation MeghdootThe seizure of the Siachen Glacier, and the longest-running deployment on Earth.
Related platforms
SA 316/SA 319 Alouette III
Single-engine, light utility helicopter developed by French aircraft company Sud Aviation.
SA 315B Lama
French single-engined helicopter.
Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk
Twin turboshaft engine, multi-mission United States Navy helicopter based on the United States Army.