Armed version of the Advanced Light Helicopter Dhruv and another ALH version, with a power-enhanced Shakti engine, took their maiden flights on Thursday at the helicopter division of the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

The weaponised Dhruv is built for battles in high altitude and can accomplish missions in day and night, adverse weather conditions and will also be fitted with the Shakti engine.

It is designed to meet the military requirements of both the Army and the Air Force.

Dhruv
The Dhruv helicopters are at present powered by TM 333-2B2 engines of Turbomeca, France, while Shakti — which generates 30 per cent extra power (1,000 kilowatts) — has been designed and jointly developed by the HAL and Turbomeca.

The project for co-development of the engine was taken up in January, 2003. The first weaponised Dhruv will be ready for delivery in mid 2009.

While the weapons have been tested individually, they will also undergo tests after integration, Ashok Baweja, Chairman, HAL, told reporters after the inaugural flight.

Powered by Shakti
Certification flight tests of Dhruv powered by Shakti will include all-weather trials.  The indigenous market for ALH is 300, the chairman said. HAL has delivered 74 ALHs and eight are yet to be delivered. The average cost of the ALH is Rs 35 crore. The Light Combat Helicopter will also be developed with the same weapons to meet the requirements of agility, manoeuvrability in high attitudes and land in confined areas, Baweja said. 

DHRUV FEATURES
* Fire and forget air-to-air missile
*20-mm turret gun
* Electro-optical day/night observation and targeting system
*Electronic warfare suite with radar-warning, missile approach warning
*Four flat Multi Function Colour Displays