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10h ago

HAL’s Dhruv NG Civil Helicopter Makes Maiden Flight in Bengaluru

HAL pitches the indigenous twin‑engine rotorcraft for civil certification, export markets, integrated support.

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Overview

  • Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu flagged off the inaugural flight at HAL’s Helicopter Division in Bengaluru.
  • The 5.5‑tonne light twin features twin Shakti 1H1C engines, an AS4‑compliant glass cockpit, modern avionics, crashworthy seats and self‑sealing fuel tanks.
  • Published performance figures include a 5,500 kg MTOW, ~285 km/h top speed, ~630 km range with 20‑minute reserve, ~3h40m endurance, ~6,000 m service ceiling and ~1,000 kg internal payload.
  • The 7.33 m³ cabin reconfigures for VIP/VVIP travel (luxury for 4–6, up to 14 seats), air ambulance missions with four stretchers plus medical staff, and roles such as offshore work, law enforcement and search and rescue.
  • HAL positions Dhruv NG as a cost‑effective alternative to imported light twins, backed by a One‑Stop Solution and logistics models including Power‑By‑Hour and Performance‑Based Logistics to maintain high fleet availability.