India officially unveiled the new-generation civil helicopter DHRUV-NG during a ceremony held in Bangalore. The event was attended by Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu and executives from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
The DHRUV-NG belongs to the light twin-engine helicopter class, with a maximum takeoff weight of 5.5 tonnes.
The aircraft is powered by Indian-made Shakti 1H1C turboshaft engines, capable of reaching speeds of up to 285 km/h and carrying up to 14 passengers.
Key innovations include a fully digital cabin with an AS4-compliant glass cockpit, a modern avionics suite, and improvements to vibration reduction systems aimed at enhancing onboard comfort.
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The Shakti 1H1C engine was developed under a joint project between HAL and Safran Helicopter Engines.
Development began between 2002 and 2003, with the aim of replacing the less powerful Turbomeca TM 333-2B2 used on Dhruv helicopters.
The baseline Ardiden 1H1 model, known in India as Shakti, received certification from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in 2009 and has since been produced locally.
Designed to serve both domestic and export markets, the DHRUV-NG is seen as a key element in India’s strategy to expand its civil helicopter sector. During the event, Ram Mohan Naidu stated that India requires approximately 1,000 to 1,500 helicopters, considering that the country’s current fleet is estimated at around 300 units.
According to HAL, the new helicopter is regarded as one of the flagship projects for strengthening the national rotary-wing industry, helping to reduce dependence on imported technologies and foster the development of local industrial capabilities in the aerospace sector.
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Source and images: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Content created with AI support and reviewed by the editorial team.
