Indian Coast Guard helicopter completes maiden ground run
The first ALH Dhruv MK-III helicopter that’s set for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has completed its maiden ground run, as well as having basic systems installed.
The first ALH Dhruv MK-III helicopter that’s set for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has completed its maiden ground run, as well as having basic systems installed.
The helicopter, which will be used for search and rescue (SAR), casualty evacuation, armed patrol and coastal surveillance, is part of a wider helicopter delivery plan between the ICG and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), which will see a total of 16 ALHs delivered to the ICG over a five-year span. The deal is said to be worth around Rs. 5126 crore (around US$8 million) with deliveries due to start after 2020.
The aircraft has now been handed over to Rotary Wing R&D Centre, a design house of HAL for integration and certification of 19 new systems.
ICG Director General Rajendra Singh spoke at an event to mark the occasion, saying that ICG had also entered into a contract that includes Performance Based Logistics (PBL) support after the delivery of helicopters for five years.