HAL, IAI Join Development and Marketing of Druhv Helicopter
India's Hindustan Aerospace Ltd and Israel Aircraft Industries
are cooperating in the development and marketing of the Druhv
ALH utility helicopter, which is making its European debut at
the Paris Air Show.
The Druhv is targeted at operations in hot-and-high conditions
that restrict operations by many of its competitors, and could
conduct attack and assault operations in areas such as the Himalayas,
Andes, Central Asia and South East Asia. Its prospective markets
are Nepal, Malaysia, Vietnam, Chile, Peru and central Europe,
where geographical conditions and lack of transportation require
extensive use of helicopters for military, security and commercial
operations.
Launched in 1984 as a larger derivative of the MBB BK 117, the
prototype ALH first flew in 1992. The export version was launched
in 2002, and will be jointly marketed by HAL and IAI, following
completion of development in 2004. It is fitted with IAI's modern
glass cockpit based on a set of core avionics modules designed
to provide full mission performance by day, night and in adverse
weather. The companies are also working on an attack helicopter
derivative of the Druhv that will offer various weapons options.
Modular mission tailored avionics systems and sensors are also
under development to support weapons operation, observation and
targeting, along with search and rescue missions.
The Druhvs currently in production for the Indian army and navy
are equipped with an indigenously developed Doppler navigation
system and other avionics produced by Indian defense companies.
While the new avionics suite is designed primarily for export,
future batches produced for the Indian forces could also be equipped
with modernized avionics suites.
