An Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) belonging to the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) crashed off the coast of Gujarat in the Arabian Sea. Two Coast Guard personnel were killed, and another is missing after the chopper crashed while attempting a medical evacuation.
The ICG announced the crash on social media site X (previously Twitter). It stated that the helicopter was launched at 11 PM on September 2 to facilitate the evacuation of an injured crew member from the motor tanker Hali Leela, which was stranded near Porbandar in Gujarat.
According to the ICG, the helicopter executed an emergency hard landing and subsequently ditched into the sea. Only one crew member was successfully rescued from the incident, and the remaining three are missing. The Coast Guard said four ships and two aircraft have been deployed to conduct an extensive search and rescue operation.
The event draws attention to the dangers of risky rescue missions. The ALH had consistently been involved in rescue operations in Gujarat following fatal flash floods caused by monsoon rains that ravaged a large portion of the state.
The timing of the ALH crash comes right after a MiG-29 fighter jet of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed near the Pakistan border during a routine night training mission. The service said that the aircraft suffered a “critical technical snag,” which led to the crash.
The Advanced Light Helicopter has had a troubled and controversial past, which makes the latest accident more significant.
ALH Dhruv is a utility helicopter developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). It is used by all branches of the Indian military and the ICG. By January 2024, 400 ALH helicopters had been manufactured.
The ALH Dhruv has demonstrated greater effectiveness than the Mi-17s in high-altitude areas of Ladakh for conducting challenging medical evacuations and occasional disaster relief operations.
The indigenously built helicopter has been exported to several nations and has undergone upgrades to develop newer, more advanced variants. The Indian Coast Guard, for instance, uses the Mk-I and Mk-III versions of this helicopter.
@IndiaCoastGuard ALH helicopter brave adverse weather to evacuate 23 stranded people, taking total for the day to 33, in 4 back to back operations from rooftops in low-lying areas! Critical First Aid provided before uniting families with State Admin. #ICG #SaveLives… pic.twitter.com/cwZZ9GiCCx
— Indian Coast Guard (@IndiaCoastGuard) August 28, 2024
While the aircraft has participated in relief efforts for several humanitarian disasters over the years, its reputation has been tarnished due to several accidents and crashes since it entered production in 2002. By 2016, at least 16 accidents had been recorded. There were two incidents, each involving the chopper, in the years 2021 and 2023.
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The ALH MK III features numerous enhancements compared to the initial ALH model, which marked India’s first export to Latin America.
The ALH MK III’s primary modification is its Shakti engine, which was created as part of a joint venture between HAL and French engine manufacturer Safran. It features an electro-optical payload, a night vision device, and an advanced maritime patrol radar, all housed in a glass cockpit.
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) commissioned the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv) Mk. III squadrons in Bhubaneswar and Kochi, in a move that was seen as a new chapter in the troubled helicopter’s journey. However, in March 2023, one of the choppers crashed in Kochi, suggesting that it was not invincible.
The ALH has been sold to Maldives, Mauritius, Nepal, and Ecuador for military use. One of these choppers has been leased to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Additionally, states like Turkey and Peru purchased the helicopter for civilian purposes.
Although the helicopter has been among the limited defense systems that have contributed to India’s success in exports, the setback in Ecuador significantly damaged its reputation.
ALH’s Debacle In Ecuador
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) managed to negotiate a $45.2 million contract with Ecuador for Dhruv helicopters in the latter part of the 2000s after defeating manufacturers like Elbit, Eurocopter, and Kazan in a fierce contest. The ALH Dhruv was promoted as a less expensive substitute for utility helicopters made in the West.
Ecuador purchased seven Dhruv helicopters from HAL, in what was seen as a significant turning point in India’s domestic defense industry. However, the excitement and optimism soon came to a grinding halt as one of the first helicopters crashed in October 2009, with the South American country declaring that it was not fit for service and contemplating its return to India.
An investigation into the crash, supported by HAL, ultimately determined that pilot error caused the aircraft’s failure. This conclusion contributed to easing tensions in Ecuador and led to the reversal of its decision to return the helicopters.
But in an unprecedented turn of events, four of the seven ALHs acquired by Ecuador crashed by 2015. The country grounded the remaining helicopters and unilaterally ended the contract with the Indian state-owned firm that same year.
At that time, Ecuador’s defense minister stated that it had been difficult to get replacement components for the helicopters from India and that two of the crashes had been caused by technical problems. Ecuador’s decision to cancel the contract halted India’s aspirations to become a significant defense supplier.
The country decided to sell the last three Dhruv helicopters and placed an order for six Airbus H145 helicopters from Western countries. These helicopters were acquired to fill the gap created by the Dhruv and to enhance the fleet of four AW119Ke aircraft. By the year 2021, the Ecuadorian Air Force had received all six Airbus H145 helicopters.
The helicopter has faced criticism even within the country. Indian Navy pilots have expressed their dissatisfaction with HAL, citing issues such as inferior quality, negligent engineering and maintenance, and, at times, deliberate evasion of responsibility. As a result, the ALH has become one of the many contentious issues that arise among the services, HAL, and Defense Public Sector Undertakings (DPSU). Nevertheless, there are still some who support the helicopter.
Several incidents involving the chopper have triggered concerns. In March 2023, the Indian Air Force, the Army, and the Navy all grounded their respective ALH fleets and conducted inspections after a Navy ALH experienced a “loss of power,” forcing the pilots to ditch the helicopter on the water.
The Indian soldiers detected problems with the gearbox’s “control rod,” a crucial metallurgy component. The ALH control rod is made of aluminum, and HAL announced earlier that it would be replaced with steel control rods in some helicopters.
Now, with yet another incident involving the ALH Dhruv, the Indian Armed Forces may need to conduct a thorough evaluation of the domestically developed chopper to prevent future mishaps.
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