Indian Dhruv Mk III MR helicopter has successfully conducted deck-operations from OPV Coast Guard.

According to information released by the Indian company HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited), HAL’s Advanced Light Helicopter Dhruv Mk III MR has successfully demonstrated its deck-operations capabilities that include landing on the deck, folding of blades, and storing the helicopter inside the onboard hangar of Indian Coast Guard ICGS Sujay Samarth-class Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV).
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Indian HAL Dhruv Mk III MR helicopter has successfully demonstrated its deck-operations capabilities from Indian Coast Guard  ICGS Sujay Samarth-class Offshore Patrol Vessel OPV. (Picture source HAL)

According to pictures released by the Indian company HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited), HAL Dhruv MK III MR has conducted flight operations from Indian Coast Guard ICGS Sujay Samarth-class Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV). The ship was built by Goa Shipyard Limited and designed to carry one twin engine Light Helicopter and five high-speed boats including two Palfinger. The rear part of the ship has a flight deck and a hangar able to accommodate one helicopter. 

The recently concluded ship-borne trials off the Chennai coast in collaboration with the Indian Coast Guard also covered maintenance activities inside the hangar and on the deck, hot refueling with engines running on the deck. The helicopter is equipped with the most modern and reliable Shakti engines and an advanced glass cockpit. HAL had recently delivered ALH Dhruv Mk III MR to Indian Coast Guard as part of its 16 ALH Contract.

“These trials have proven the capability of ALH Dhruv to carry out extended operations from ships. Some of the missions that were successfully executed were surveillance, search and rescue, antipollution to address oil spillage, etc. With the successful demonstration of these capabilities like blade folding, stowage, the helicopter is now ready to be fielded for operations,” said Mr. R. Madhavan, CMD, HAL.

Dhruv Mk III MR is equipped with the most modern surveillance radar that can detect and identify ships and boats up to a range of 120 nautical miles to enable the Indian Coast Guard in its duty to secure the nation from threats. Coupled with an electro-optical sensor that can closely monitor even the smallest of the vessels at distances as far as 30 nautical miles, ALH Dhruv will boost the capabilities of the Indian Coast Guard.

HAL Dhruv Mk III MR helicopter inside the hangar of the Indian Coast Guard OPV. (Picture source HAL)