India's Advanced Light Helicopter may be sold abroad

India's Advanced Light Helicopter, slated to be inducted into the three armed forces in the next financial year, may be sold in the international arms market.

Official sources said in New Delhi on Tuesday that the ALH's special features include its multi-role capability and its capacity to carry 12 passengers with two pilots in normal configuration.

In high density configuration, the ALH is designed to carry 14 passengers while for the VIPs a provision of six seats will be available.

Equipped with a dual control system and duplicate flight instruments, the helicopter can be used for basic training.

Its cargo pallet is of 3.1 x 1.35 x 0.95 metre and capacity for under slung load is up to 1500 kg.

The ALH's special technological features are: twin engines, hingeless composite main rotor, bearingless composite tail rotor, integrated dynamic system, anti-resonant vibration isolation system, automatic flight control system and redundancy in-flight critical systems.

Other special technological features include maximum take-off weight of 5,500 kg with two pilots and 20 minutes reserve fuel.

The ALH also has the highest survivability due to twin engine composite rotors, duplex hydraulics, ballistic tolerance, cruise speed up to 245 km per hour, range of 800 km and endurance of four hours.

Another significant feature is the extensive use of composites -- up to 29 per cent by weight.

The ALH project had its genesis in its predecessor -- the Armed Light Helicopter project -- which was discontinued in view of new requirements.

In 1976, Rs 273.6 million was sanctioned for developing a single-engine Armed Light Helicopter, which was to succeed the Cheetah and Chetak helicopters.

In view of new requirements, the project perspective was changed towards the development of a twin-engine helicopter with several advanced features.

Against this revised perspective and specifications, the Cabinet sanctioned Rs 3.91 billion at April 1992 prices. This project was assigned to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, the largest public sector undertaking under the department of defence production and supplies.

UNI