Overview
- Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu flagged off the maiden public flight and inspected the cockpit before takeoff in Bengaluru.
- HAL lists performance figures including a 5,500 kg maximum take-off weight, ~285 km/h top speed, ~630 km range with a 20-minute reserve, ~3 hours 40 minutes endurance, ~6,000 m service ceiling, and ~1,000 kg internal payload.
- The helicopter is powered by twin Shakti 1H1C engines that HAL says provide higher power and enable maintenance within India.
- Avionics and safety features include an AS4-compliant glass cockpit, crashworthy seats, self-sealing fuel tanks, and advanced vibration control for smoother ride quality.
- The 7.33-cubic-metre cabin can be configured for VIP/VVIP transport, 14-passenger commuter service, or air-ambulance layouts, and HAL is promoting domestic one-stop logistics with Power-By-Hour and performance-based support models.