A critical safety upgrade on the military’s advanced light helicopter Dhruv fleet, initiated by state-run plane maker HAL after a string of accidents last year.
Entire Dhruv Helicopter Fleet Set To Get Key Safety Upgrade
A critical safety upgrade on the military’s advanced light helicopter Dhruv fleet, initiated by state-run plane maker HAL after a string of accidents last year, is nearing completion and the upgraded control system installed on the locally made choppers will improve their airworthiness. The Dhruv fleet, plagued by a nagging design issue, was grounded several times last year after the accidents called into question its flight safety record.
This led to a comprehensive design review of the helicopter’s booster control rods followed by a drive to replace the flaw-ridden existing ones with new rods in each ALH. The development is significant as the armed forces operate around 330 twin-engine ALHs, designed and developed by HAL. Replacement of the collective control rod has been completed in all the helicopters, said a senior official who asked not to be named.
“This will improve flight safety. The design improvement is tested and proven. Failure in the helicopter’s control assembly, which consists of the collective, pitch and roll control rods, was the cause of some mishaps,” HAL. ALHs were involved in accidents before and after the navy incident too. HAL began delivering these helicopters to the armed forces in the early 2000s.
Engine type: Turboshaft
Weight: 2,502 kg
Manufacturer: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
Top speed: 282 km/h
Range: 660 km
Introduced: 2002
IAF Grounds Mig-21 Fleet
Two weeks after a crash involving a MiG-21 jet over Rajasthan killed three, the Indian Air Force has decided to ground the aging fleet of Soviet-origin aircraft which have been involved in over 400 accidents since their induction. The MiG-21s used to be the mainstay of the IAF for a long period of time. After its induction in the early 1960s, the IAF procured over 700 MiG-21 fighters to boost its overall combat prowess.
Tejas Jets
In February 2021, the government sealed a Rs 48,000 crore deal with HAL for the procurement of 83 Tejas jets. The IAF has already procured 36 Rafale jets to enhance its combat capabilities. The Air Force is also in the process of acquiring 114 Medium Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA).
