The Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), also known as 'Dhruv', is the first indigenously designed and manufactured helicopter by HAL Bangalore.

It was inducted into the Indian Navy on 28 Mar 2002. The Intensive Flying and Trials Unit (IFTU), formed at INS Garuda on 10 Feb 2003, undertook 3 years of intensive flying trials and evaluations.

Post completion, the aircraft was cleared for operational exploitation and ALH Flights were established at Kochi and Goa on 01 Sep 05.

The ALH is being employed for a variety of missions including Advanced Search and Rescue, Special Heli-Borne Operations, Armed Patrol, Sniper Ops, VVIP Carriage and Night SAR. Cdr Ravi Sivasankar is the first Commanding Officer of the squadron.

Specifications

General Characteristics
• Crew: 1 or 2 pilots
• Capacity: 12 passengers (14 with high density seating); or 4 stretchers with 2 attendants; or 2 stretchers with 4 attendants
• Length: 15.9 m (52 ft 2 in)
• Width: 13.2 m (43 ft 4 in)
• Height: 4.98 m (16 ft 4 in)
• Empty weight: 2,502 kg (5,516 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 5,500 kg (12,125 lb)
• Fuel capacity: 1400 litersUseful load: 2600 kg
• Powerplant: 2 × HAL Shakti Turboshaft, 899 kW (1,206 hp) each . Used in Mk III and Mk IV.
• Powerplant: 2 × Turbomeca TM 333 Turboshaft, 801 kW (1,074 hp) each . Used in Mk I and Mk II.
• Main rotor diameter: 13.20 m (43 ft 4 in)

Performance
• Maximum speed: 295 km/h (183 mph; 159 kn)
• Range: 640 km (398 mi; 346 nmi)
• Endurance: 3h 42m
• Service ceiling: 6,096 m (20,000 ft)
• Rate of climb: 10.3 m/s (2,030 ft/min)

Armament
• Missiles:
• 8 Anti-tank guided missiles
• 4 Air-to-air missiles
• 4 x 68 mm Rocket Pods (Air-Force & Army)
• 4 x 70 mm Rocket Pods FZ231
• 2 Torpedoes
• Depth charges or Anti-ship missiles