New Delhi (Agencies): India has grounded its entire fleet of HAL Dhruv helicopters following 23 crashes, with 330 out of 410 helicopters now grounded. The decision comes after a fatal crash on January 5, 2025, involving an Indian Coast Guard Dhruv helicopter at Porbandar, Gujarat, which killed all three crew members on board.
The grounding has significantly impacted operations across the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard, as the Dhruv helicopters are a critical component of the country’s defense ecosystem. The investigation into the crashes is ongoing, with a focus on technical failures, particularly issues related to the helicopter’s flying controls and transmission systems.
Defence Secretary RK Singh stated that Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is conducting safety checks and working to resolve the issues as quickly as possible.
The HAL Dhruv, also known as the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), is a twin-engined, fourteen-seat medium utility helicopter produced by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). It is available with either wheel or skid landing gear and is powered by two Turbomeca Ardiden 3G engines, each producing 1032 kW (1384 shp). The helicopter has a maximum speed of 300 km/h (162 knots) and a service ceiling of 4500 meters (14,764 feet).
The Dhruv is designed to meet the requirements of both military and civil operators, with military variants developed for transport, utility, reconnaissance, and medical evacuation roles. As of January 2024, more than 400 Dhruvs had been produced for domestic and export markets, logging over 340,000 flying hours.
The grounding of the Dhruv fleet highlights the urgent need for comprehensive safety measures and technical upgrades to ensure the reliability and safety of these helicopters in the future.