Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) officially handed over to the Indian Army Aviation Corps (AAC) the first Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) powered by Shakti engines at Aero India in Bangalore on 10 February.
At a handover ceremony, Maj Gen P. K. Bharali, the additional director general of army aviation, received the first five of the twin-engine craft.
The Dhruv Mk.III is different from its predecessors by being powered by the new Shakti turboshaft engine co-developed by Turbomeca and HAL.
However, this is not the only change in the ALH. Dr. Prasad Sampath, general manager of HAL’s Rotary Wing Research and Design Centre, traced the progression of the Dhruv: ‘The Mk.I, powered by Turbomeca TM 333 2B2 engines, featured a conventional cockpit and minimal vibration control, while the Mk.II that appeared in 2007 had a glass cockpit and first-generation active vibration control. The latest Mk.III features second-generation active vibration control, Shakti engines and additions to the cockpit displays.’
Shakti engines mate a HAL gearbox and 1,032kW Turbomeca engine. The latest Dhruv Mk.III can carry a 200kg payload at an altitude of 6,000m. This compares with a payload of just 50-100kg for the incumbent 825kW engine. A high-altitude capacity is a critical requirement for the Indian Army.
11/02/11 Shephard
Posts Tagged 'HAL'
Indian Army takes delivery of more powerful Dhruvs
Published February 12, 2011 Uncategorized Leave a CommentTags: ALH, Defence, Dhruv, HAL
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited to give wing to 1,500 copters
Published February 11, 2011 Uncategorized Leave a CommentTags: Defence, HAL
Bangalore: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will be designing, developing and manufacturing 1,500 helicopters in the next decade.
HAL finance director D Shivamurti said on Thursday that of the 1,500 choppers to be developed by the Bangalore-headquartered public sector undertaking, 100 would be Advanced Light Helicopters, 300 would be Light Utility Helicopters and the remaining would be multi-role helicopters of the 10-12 tonne class.
Besides, HAL will be investing about Rs20,000 crore over the next 10 years to modernise and expand its capacity to execute orders valued at Rs1,00,000 crore.
Shivamurti added that HAL has Rs9,000 crore in reserves.
To a query, he said HAL is awaiting government approval to go public and raise funds. “Being a fully-owned state-run enterprise, it is for the government to decide,†he said. The Intermediate Jet Trainer (IJT) would be given the Initial Operational Clearance by June enabling the Indian Air Force to test the aircraft. The IJT is expected to replace the HJT-16 Kiran in its role as a stage II trainer in the air force.
11/02/11 Hemanth CS/Daily News & Analysis
HAL to go in for Rs 20,000-cr makeover
Published February 11, 2011 Uncategorized Leave a CommentTags: HAL
Bangalore: India’s premier public sector defence units are set to build up capacities in a significant way to meet the flood of defence-manufacturing requirement projected in the country under evolving defence procurement and production regimes.
Aircraft manufacturers Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) announced a Rs 20,000 crore plan over 10 years for modernising its plants and hinted at a possible public offering like its giant PSU cousins Bharat Electronics Limited and Bharat Earth Movers Limited at the Aero India 2011 here on Thursday.
BEML, meanwhile, announced plans to set up a Rs 350-crore aerospace engineering facility while BE indicated negotiations for tie-ups with global defence radar majors like the British Thales and the Israeli Rafael in a push to achieve a target of $300 million to $500 million offset business in the next three to five years from current marks of $60 million.
11/02/11 Johnson TA/Indian Express
HAL reveals new look for HTT-40 basic trainer design
Published February 11, 2011 Uncategorized Leave a CommentTags: HAL, HTT-40
A new basic trainer design is making its first appearance on Hindustan Aeronautics’ stand in model form, with the HTT-40 turboprop planned as an indigenous replacement for the Indian air force’s retired HPT-32 Deepaks.
HAL says the aircraft – which differs markedly from a concept image displayed at the last Aero India show – has an 11m (36ft) wing span, a fuselage length of 11.3m and a maximum take-off weight of 2,800kg (6,170lb).
The type will be capable of flying at a maximum speed of 243kt (450km/h) and at altitudes up to 19,700ft.
11/02/11 Craig Hoyle/Flight Global
HAL hands over a Cheetah to Namibia
Published February 10, 2011 Uncategorized Leave a CommentTags: Cheetah, HAL, Namibia
Bangalore: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) handed over a Cheetah helicopter to the Namibian air force at a function held at the HAL stall at Aero India 2011 on Wednesday, the opening day of the eighth edition of the air show.
The HAL has also agreed to supply two Chetaks to Namibia.
HAL managing director (helicopter complex) and director (corporate planning and marketing) P Soundara Rajan handed over the helicopter to Namibian defence minister Maj Gen (Retd) Charles Namolah.
Soundara Rajan said HAL was committed to meeting the target of handing over two Chetaks to Namibia. “We are committed in handing over the Chetaks to Namibia and the work in this regard is in full swing,†he said.
The Namibian delegation included the high commissioner to India Samuel K Mbmbo and Namibian air force commander air vice-marshal MK Pinehas. General manager (helicopter division) MS Srinath, and general manager (helicopter MRO division) Anirudh Kumar were among those present from the HAL side. The five-seater Cheetah is a high performance helicopter designed for operation over a wide range of weight, centre of gravity and altitude conditions.
10/02/11 Daily News & Analysis
HAL, CAE open helicopter simulator centre
Published February 9, 2011 Uncategorized Leave a CommentTags: CAE, HAL, Simulator
Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) and Canadian flight simulator producer CAE have formed a joint venture helicopter simulation facility in Bangalore.
The two companies are equal shareholders in the $64 million Helicopter Academy to Train by Simulation of Flying (HATSOFF), says joint venture CEO CD Upadhyay. Of the start-up funding 30% came from the two partners, and 70% from debt.
The main training facility of HATSOFF is a roll on-roll off full motion level D simulator, certified to EASA standards. Different cockpit modules to be interchanged in the simulator.
The only module now present is for the Bell 412EP. A module for the HAL Dhruv advanced light helicopter has been developed, and will be ready for training both civilian and military pilots from 1 May. A module for the Eurocopter Dauphin 365N3 will ready by July 2011, and a module for the weaponised Drhuv by March 2012, says HATSOFF.
09/02/11 Greg Waldron/Flight Global
US firms to explore tie-ups with DRDO, HAL
Published February 9, 2011 Uncategorized Leave a CommentTags: Defence, HAL, US
Bangalore: A US business delegation, including firms keen on the defence, space and communication sectors, is here to explore opportunities for tie-ups with institutions like DRDO and ISRO during the AeroIndia international air show beginning Wednesday.
Led by US commerce secretary Gary Locke, the delegation’s efforts come after the US recently removed India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) from the entity list that bans hi-tech exports.
In a clear shift in the economic ties between the two countries after US President Barack Obama’s visit to India last November, 24 companies are in Bangalore to hold discussions with DRDO’s laboratories and defence production unit Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) on trade possibilities in defence, space and communication technologies.
Locke, who arrived here on Tuesday, told reporters that the American business delegation was here “to explore opportunities” with DRDO and HAL.
“The removal of these laboratories and institutions from the entity list, we believe, is a huge symbol of enhanced cooperation between the two countries,” he said while replying to a question in this regard.
09/02/11 IANS/Times of India
HAL to showcase indigenous military aircraft prowess
Published February 9, 2011 Uncategorized Leave a CommentTags: Defence, HAL, Tejas
howcasing its indigenous manufacturing prowess, the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will unveil its under-development Light Utility Helicopter and the Light Combat Helicopter at the Aero India show starting here tomorrow.
“For the first time, we will show our Light Utility Helicopter (LUH), which is being developed to replace the Cheetah and Chetak helicopter fleet of the Indian air Force and the Army along with the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH),†HAL officials said here.
The three-tonne helicopter is being put in the HAL pavilion for static display, they said.
Once developed, the helicopter would be able to carry out surveillance and reconnaissance missions along with playing search and rescue roles.
The LCH, the officials said, would also take part in the flying displays and would be placed at the tarmac for static display, they said.
08/02/11 PTI/The Hindu
