Officials from the defence ministry, Army, and Navy during the signing of the ALH Dhruv-MkIII contracts. (Photo: MoD)
New Delhi: The Ministry of Defence (defence ministry) has signed two contracts worth a total of ₹8,073 crore with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for the acquisition of 34 advanced light helicopters (ALH) Dhruv-MkIII. The helicopters will be utilized by the Indian Army and the Indian Coast Guard, bolstering their operational capabilities.
The contracts, signed on Wednesday, marks a significant milestone in India’s drive to modernize the country’s armed forces using indigenous weapons and platforms as they have been signed under the “Buy (Indian-IDDM)” category. IDDM stands for “indigenously designed, developed, and manufactured”.
The ALH Dhruv-MkIII helicopters, renowned for their versatility and performance, will provide a much-needed boost to the operational readiness of both the Army and the Coast Guard.
The ALH Dhruv-MkIII is a multi-role, new-generation helicopter, designed and manufactured by HAL. It is equipped with state-of-the-art technology and advanced avionics, making it an ideal choice for a variety of missions, including troop transport, casualty evacuation, and search and rescue operations. The Army and the Coast Guard have expressed confidence that the addition of the Dhruv-Mk III helicopters will significantly enhance their operational efficiency and effectiveness.
The acquisition of these helicopters is part of the country’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the country’s indigenous defence capabilities. The contracts are also seen as a huge potential to generate employment while giving a boost to local manufacturers.
In a statement, the defence ministry said: “The project will generate employment of an estimated 190 lakh man-hours during its duration. It will also entail supply of equipment from more than 200 MSMEs (micro, medium, and small enterprises), and 70 local vendors will be involved in the indigenization process, which is likely to have a positive impact on employment generation in this sector.”
The helicopters are expected to be delivered over the next few years.
