Overview
- The Directorate General of Civil Aviation issued India’s first type certificate for indigenous civil production of the Shakti 1H1C turboshaft, enabling in‑country manufacturing and support.
- HAL plans about 150 certification flights using two helicopters to secure full civil approval, following the Bengaluru inaugural sortie flagged off by Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu.
- Initial commercial traction includes an order for eight Dhruv NGs from Pawan Hans, with additional interest reported from ONGC, state governments and security agencies.
- The 5.5‑tonne twin‑engine platform features an AS4‑compliant glass cockpit, crashworthy seats, self‑sealing fuel tanks and advanced vibration control, with performance quoted at ~285 km/h top speed, ~630 km range and seating for up to 14.
- HAL cites roughly 65% indigenous content today and targets about 80% over the next decade, positioning the helicopter as a cost‑effective alternative to imports in a market the government projects will add over 1,000 helicopters in 10–15 years.