HAL to hand over 2 Rudra choppers to Army at Aero India

                                                    By Anantha Krishnan M
                                                      Express News Service
Bangalore: The Indian Army will be handed over the first two weapon system integrated (WSI) version of Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH-Mk-IV) Rudra, during Aero India 2013. Confirming to Express on Thursday, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) chairman R K Tyagi said that Rudra will also be available for customer demonstration flights at show. “Rudra will definitely add more teeth to Indian Army and we will roll out more production units to the squadron,”Tyagi said. Express had earlier reported that around 70 Rudras will fly out of HAL  to meet Army’s initial requirements. 
“In addition to the redundant flight critical systems, IR suppressor, armour panels, crashworthy features, self-sealing fuel tanks enhance the survivability of the helicopter in the battlefield environment,” Tyagi said. Rudra can carry a mix of weapons, providing it with capability to search and destroy any target. Systems like electro-optic pod, helmet-mounted sight, fixed sight facilitating firing of the onboard weapons (20 mm turret gun, 70mm rockets and Air-to-Air missiles), makes Rudra an unforgiving machine.
He said Rudra’s rigid rotors have extremely high agility and manoeuvrability. With its higher powered engine, the chopper can undertake missions up to altitudes of 6 km. “With such capabilities, Rudra is unmatched in the world, in its class,” claims Tyagi.
Tyagi confirmed that HAL has plans to integrate additional new systems on Rudra, including Infra Red jammer, Data Link, obstacle avoidance system (for Army), wire cutter (for IAF) and NBC (Nuclear Biological and Chemical) sensors.
When asked about ALH Dhruv’s (earlier version of Rudra) export status, Tyagi said three more countries have shown interest in these choppers. Over 130 Dhruv helicopters are in operation now, with Indian Army flying 110 and 12 with Indian civil operators. Ecuador, Nepal, Mauritius and Maldives also operate Dhruv choppers.
Copyright@The New Indian Express

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ALH Rudra ready to spit fire | HAL equates it with Black Hawk & Puma | Phase-1 IOC likely in May

  Above sequence of photos are taken during Rudra's ATGM Helina trials. Have you seen these photos, before? Remember to give due credits while sharing!

 By Anantha Krishnan M

Express News Service

Bangalore: Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) is all set to unleash Rudra, a beast of a machine from its hangars soon. Rudra (fierce form of Lord Shiva) is the Mk-IV weapon systems integrated (WSI) version of HAL’s star chopper Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) and is expected to get the Phase-1 Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) this May. Painted in black, the Rudra is one hell of a machine -- fully-loaded and truly menacing. HAL says get on beyond the looks!
The IOC is split into two parts, with Phase-2 expected later, only to accommodate the users’ choice of an anti-tank guided missile (ATGM). The Defence Research Development Organisation too is tempting the user (Army & IAF) with a desi-ATGM (Helina, the air version of Nag also called as alternate ATGM). “The weapon trials are on and we have completed the Missile, gun and rocket trials at Pokhran, Chandipur and Kalaikunda. We are conducting integrated weapon trails with all sensors coming into play,“ sources said. The Rudra is powered by Shakthi engine.
As per the initial orders, close to 70 Rudras are to be supplied to Indian armed forces. “It has comfortably-exceeded the payload and performance requirements at 6 km height. It has integrated sensors, weapons and electronic warfare suite using an upgraded version of the glass cockpit used in the Mk-III. The cockpit avionics is a state-of-the-art technology when it comes to helicopters. The sensors include stabilised day and night cameras, Infra-Red imaging, as well as laser ranging and designation,” sources said.
The weapons onboard Rudra cover all role aspects including air-to-air and air-to-ground from the stabilised and turreted high-velocity M621 20 mm cannon to long-range 70 mm rockets (8 km) and air-to-air missiles (Mistral-II). The EW suite consists of MAWS (missile approach warning system) laser and radar warning systems and automated with sensors covering all envisaged threats. It has automatic dispensation of countermeasures like chaff and fare dispensing systems.
HAL claims that Rudra is the only attack helicopter in the world which can operate in the higher reaches of the Himalayas with a decent armament load. “The MI-35 is restricted to well below 6000 feet and the newly-acquired Apache will be restricted to below 12,000 feet. This puts the onerous task of defending the Himalayas on Rudra. It is not strictly an attack helicopter in the present day context and perhaps be compared to a proof-of-concept US-Israeli Black Hawk (completed in 2009) and to the recent IAR-330 SOCAT armed upgrade version of Eurocopter’s Puma helicopter,” say HAL sources.
Both Black Hawk and Puma are in the 9 tonne AUW (all-up weight) Class, and have far lesser high-altitude performance compared to Rudra. The Mk-III version of Dhruv holds the record of landing on a helipad at 20,000 feet in Siachen (world’s highest helipad) carrying a load in excess of 600 kg, during peak summers.

Copyright@The New Indian Express

HAL, CABS ready to inspire Brazilian Defence Minister Celso Amorim

Brazilian Defence
Minister Celso Amorim

By Anantha Krishnan M

Express News Service

Bangalore: The Aviation Capital will play host to Brazilian Defense Minister Celso Amorim on February 7, after he touches down at the Old Bangalore Airport for a one-day visit. The charismatic leader from Brazil will then get into a huddle with the men from Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), who are polishing the power-points to showcase their might.

Part of his India five-day tour, Amorim's will get a glimpse of HAL's Hawk facility, Advanced Light Helicopter final assembly, Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) hangar and finally the must-see export hangar. HAL sources say that Brazil could be a prospective customer for its star product Dhruv, after Ecuador. “Very nascent stages of thought-process, though we are keen to push the product as an affordable chopper with great operational abilities. There were some talks for the supply of aircraft doors in the past and we should now see how Amorim's visit would materialize into business later,” sources said.

The DRDO will host Amorim at the Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS), which is currently engaged in the development of the Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AEW&CS) on a modified platform of Embraer (EMB-145I) of Brazil.

“We will be showing him the structural assembly of the Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA)  radar. At this point we have no idea, whether we will have another partnership with Brazil for our future programmes,” DRDO sources said.

The quality inspectors and certifying officials from Brazil are already at CABS as part of the AEW&CS project. “More people-to-people cooperation is being talked about between the two countries and Amorim's visit would cement the plans,” sources said. 

Copyright@The New Indian Express

HATSOFF CEO Upadhyay quits; HAL says all is well

By Anantha Krishnan M

Express News Service

Bangalore: Veteran Test pilot and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Bangalore-based HATSOFF Helicopter Training Private Ltd Wg Cdr (Retd) C D Upadhyay has quit . Sources confirmed to Express on Thursday that Upadhyay put in his papers on January 5 and will be out of HATSOFF (Helicopter Academy to Train by Simulation of Flying) by the end of this month. HATSOFF is a JV of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) and CAE Canada.

Sources say that Upadhyay emailed his resignation to the Board members expressing his desire to be off all activities of HATSOFF. “The CAE, while acknowledging the email thanked him for getting a world-class, leading-edge chopper training facility in Bangalore. He is now keen to share his expertise to promote helicopter industry and safe helicopter operations in India ,” sources said. He was appointed as the first CEO of HATSOFF in 2009.

HAL chairman's office told Express that Upadhyay was turning 65 years this month and hence it was a matter of days before he would have signed off from the post. An email sent to CAE's media department evoked no response. “He was informed that he could continue till March, which he rejected. There were some skirmishes over one armed forces' wing not agreeing to sent Dhruv pilots to train at HATSOFF despite repeated representations to them. He didn't budge a bit from the rulebook,” sources said.

For Upadhyay this will be the end of a hat-trick service spanning over 65 years. He commanded the Mi-8 Squadron while being with the Indian Air Force and later was the Chief Test Pilot (CTP) of HAL's rotary wing operations. “He was very much part of the design and development of Dhruv from its inception and has over 1000 hours of prototype testing experience on this helicopter. He has flown over 33 different types of aircraft and helicopters and has over 9000 hours of operational, prototype testing and instructional flying experience,” sources at HAL's Human Resources department said.

Upadhyay was not available for any comment.

Copyright@The New Indian Express

Sarangs join Army during silent joint exercise along Kerala coast

ALH photos for representation only. Photos: Tarmak007 Archives

The Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Indian Army conducted a ‘silent’ day-and-night joint exercise along the St Andrew’s beach in Puthanthope, near Kazhakuttom, Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala). According to Army sources, the joint exercise was part of the training for Special Ops. Though the IAF and the Army are officially tight-lipped about the operation held on August 8 (day and night), sources tell Tarmak007 that – it was probably for the first time -- Sarang Helicopter Display Team was called in for such an exercise. “The troops were called in from Hyderabad, while four Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) were summoned from 151 HU based out of Sulur. We haven’t seen the Sarangs during any such operations,” Army sources said. Troops attached to Gorkha Rifles and Madras Regiment is said to have taken part in this rigorous exercise – a fact that couldn’t be independently confirmed by Tarmak007. “Heliborne and slithering operations were carried out by various teams,” sources said.

Simply Sarang: Daring Dhruvs on a Duet!

Robert Maria Clement

Some rare and hi-res photographs of Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv of India Air Force's Sarang Helicopter Display Team. These stunning, low-flying photographs were taken by Bangalore-based photo-journalist Robert Maria Clement. Robert, an extremely-gifted shutterbug, worked with the blogger in The Times of India and later in HAL. He now works with Deccan Chronicle. There's no specific reason for uploading these images now, just that I chanced upon them while hunting for some archive images. If anyone want to have these hi-res photos without the watermarks, please email me.

IAF Dhruv pilots begin training at HATSOFF; Ecuador pilots with presidential fleet complete session

 By Abraham V. Kuruvilla

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has entered into a formal agreement with Bangalore-headquartered HATSOFF for training their pilots operating the Advanced Light Helicopter, Dhruv. The first batch of pilots have already finished their mandatory five hours of training on the Dhruv simulator at the facility.

Every pilot is scheduled to receive five hours of training spread across two-two-and-a-half-months. The IAF on its part has also deputed an officer to monitor the training. “This is going to be a huge morale-booster for the ALH pilots considering the issues we had with this chopper. We hope to bring down the accident rate and couldn’t have asked for a better facility than HATSOFF,” a senior IAF official said, not wanting to give out the number of pilots set to undergo the training.

The training exposes pilots to undertake dangerous missions, thereby giving them the confidence to practice and execute ‘bail-out-plans’ in the company of an instructor.  “The options are aplenty. Now we know what needs to be done during bad weather, ways to avoid the clouds and so on. Time saved, money saved and above all the confidence of having upgraded our training levels,” says an IAF pilot, who was part of the Sarang team earlier.

HATSOFF’s first overseas client is Telstra Child Flight from Australia. Telstra operates emergency helicopter retrieval service for children and babies in Australia.  Two pilots have already undergone training at HATSOFF. In addition, two Ecuadorian presidential pilots also have finished their training on the Dhruv simulator. The air force pilots from Ecuador are now likely to follow suit.

HATSOFF now hopes to have the third simulator (Dauphin 365-N3) installed by November this year, taking the total to three. The facility has also got on to Facebook (Hatsoff Bengaluru) for the benefit of helicopter community world-over.   

(Posted by Abraham V. Kuruvilla, Tarmak007 intern from Madras University.)

(Below update on July 11, 2011)

Training comes handy: The practice of various emergencies and malfunction procedures at HATSOFF simulator has come in as a saving grace for Capt Paddy, COO of Swajas Air Charters Ltd. On July 7 2011, while take-off from oil rig Tahara, just after rotation, Paddy is said to have experienced a total power loss of engine No 2.

"The chopper was recovered without much problem, as we had practiced these emergency malfunctions at HATSOFF  last month. Hence, safe single engine flight was established and after identifying the fault, No. 2 engine was taken into manual control and was flown to Chennai, making a safe landing. The cause of this failure was due to a broken P3 air pipe which was rectified later. It was a simulator session, which made things very easy and helped us to handle the emergencies," the pilot was quoted as saying on the HATSOFF FB site.

HAL to hand over 15 ALH Mk-III to Army, IAF

By Anantha Krishnan M. | Aerospace Daily & Defense Report |

Aviation Week | March 7 | Bangalore | India |

Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) soon will hand over five Mk. 3 versions of the Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) to the Indian army. This is in addition to the five Dhruv Mk. 3 helicopters delivered to the service during the just-concluded Aero India 2011 symposium, which marked the first deliveries in a total order of 159 advanced Dhruv variants. HAL says the rest of the helicopters will be delivered in phases over the next five years.
“There were issues with the shortage of spares, which put the brakes on the production activities,” a senior HAL official says. “We have overcome the crisis, and the production plan has picked up momentum now. Ten Dhruvs for the Indian air force [also] will be handed over soon.”
The Mk. 3 variants are powered by Shakti turboshaft engines developed by HAL and Turbomeca. The helicopter underwent high-altitude trials in 2009. “The Mk. 3 sports a new electronic warfare suite, advanced laser warning systems, missile warning systems and electro-optical pods. It has a new-generation vibration-control system in place along with the glass cockpit. It also has an automatic chaff-and-flare dispenser,” the official says.

(Full report in AW here)

#1: R.I.P: Four years after lying in coma following ALH crash, IAF’s top Sarang stunt pilot Wg Cdr Jetly dies

Four years after the ill-fated crash of IAF’s Sarang ALH chopper in Bangalore, the pilot who hung on to life in a stage of coma, is no more. Wg Cdr Vikas Jetly passed away on January 11. Jetley’s co-pilot Sqn Ldr Priye Sharma had died during the crash in 2007.

It was on 2 Feb 07 that a brand new ALH rolled out of HAL’s Helicopter Division in Bangalore, donning the mesmerizing colors of Sarang, crashed at the Yelahanka air base during a normal practice sortie. The helicopter crashed after a hard left turn at low-altitude, readying itself for the show-stopper cross-over maneuver. The incident happened just 5 days before the Aero India 2007.
Military sources tell Tarmak007 that the Jetly was admitted to Command Hospital in Bangalore for a long time and the doctors trying everything to bring him back to normal life. He is survived his by wife Shalini and two children. His colleagues in the Sarang Aerobatic Team remember him as an extremely brave pilot. 

HAL went out of its way, thanks to former chairman Ashok K. Baweja, to help  the families of both pilots. Shalini was given an employment at HAL Liaison Office in Delhi, but had to proceed on a long leave owing to domestic issues.
A solid chap, who encouraged youngsters: Ex-team member 

"He was a solid chap. Sober. He was a man of few words. What made him different was that he always encouraged youngsters. His energy levels were very high. He was the main member of the formation flying," recalls one of his former team members. "He was part of the Sarang team right from the beginning of the team's  formation (2003). He was a Cheetah pilot, who used to operate in Leh. He was picked for the aerobatic team, purely due to his excellent flying skills. He was an extremely fit person. We will miss him for a long time to come," the pilot, who was part of the first batch of Sarang said.

"He was a good guy. I remember him as a very disciplined pilot, always smiling. Very friendly," says an IAF spokesperson, who had seen Jetly from very close quarters, during his initial days in IAF.
R.I.P.

(Stay tuned for an update on this story)

Team Dhruv joins Tarmak007@1 Sky Party!

 An Army Aviation friend shares some photos of Dhruv and para-jumpers on the occasion of Tarmak007 turning One. Photos: Army Aviation

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Star 'n' Sun: A rare photograph of Dhruv captured against sunset

Photo: Army Aviation