Following approval from the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), the Ministry of Defence has signed two contracts worth a total of Rs 8073.17 crore with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Bengaluru, on March 13, 2024. These contracts entail the acquisition of 34 Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) Dhruv Mk III, including Operational Role Equipment for the Indian Army (25 ALHs) and the Indian Coast Guard (09 ALHs), under the Buy (Indian-IDDM – Indigenously Designed, Developed & Manufactured) category. This marks a significant step towards indigenization in defence manufacturing.
The ALH Dhruv Mk III UT (Utility) variant, designed for Search & Rescue, Troop Transportation, Internal Cargo, Recce/Casualty Evacuation, etc., has demonstrated its effectiveness in high-altitude regions like the Siachen Glacier and Ladakh.
The ALH Mk III MR (Maritime Role), designed for Maritime Surveillance and Interdiction, Search and Rescue, Rappelling Operations, Cargo & Personnel Transportation, Pollution Response using external cargo carrying capability, and Medical Casualty Evacuation, has proven its capability even in adverse atmospheric conditions over sea and land.
This project is expected to create employment opportunities with an estimated 190 Lakh Man-Hours during its duration. Additionally, it will involve the supply of equipment from over 200 MSMEs, and around 70 local vendors will participate in the indigenization process, likely contributing to employment generation in this sector, aligning with the vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’.
