Dhruv fitted with Shakti engine flight tested successfully

Bangalore, Aug 16 (UNI) Defence aviation major Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) today successfully flight tested the weaponised version of the indigenously developed Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) ''Dhruv'', fitted with a high power Shakti engine, jointly built with French aero engine major Turbomeca.

With a 30 per cent higher power that increased the payload capacity of the aircraft by 150 per cent, two Dhruvs took to the skies majestically, with its armoury packed with 20 mm turret guns, 'fire and forget' air-to-air missiles and twin 70 mm rockets pods each carrying a dozen rockets, besides night observation and targeting systems.

Briefing newspersons after the display, HAL Chairman and Managing Director Ashok K Baweja said the weaponised mode and the high power Shakti engine opened ''one more chapter of integrating modern warfare tools in the Indian made aircraft.'' He said Shakti had the most sophisticated electronic digital control that help to meet the highly demanding performance requirements over a wide range of altitude, environment and terrain conditions.

''Shakti will meet the high altitude power requirements of weaponised Dhruv of the Indian Army and Air Force. Indian certification authorities are participating in the certification process and we expect the provisional certificate to be issued by January or February next year,'' he said.

Mr Baweja said HAL had an order book of 75 Dhruv helicopters, of which 67 were delivered. The Indian market for Dhruv was 300, including 250 for the services and Coast Guard.

''We are also focussing on the export market and the ALH has been tested extensively in the high terrain of Chile at an altitude of 12,000 to 15,000 feet for over 100 hours.'' (Eds: Pls pick up suitably from earlier series).

UNI