India’s Indigenous Light Utility Helicopter Clears Altitude Test In Himalayas

The indigenously designed Light Utility Helicopter successfully completed the high altitude capability in hot and high weather conditions in Himalayas, state-run aerospace and defence company, HAL announced on Thursday. Trials were carried out by the test pilots from HAL, Indian Air Force and Army from Aug 24 to Sept 2. 

“The Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) has complied with all the requirements of the users and with the completion of hot and high altitude testing, it is close to operational clearance certification”, news agency ANI quoted R Madhavan, Chairman and Managing Director, HAL as saying. 

According to the statement, a comprehensive test plan was executed at Leh (3,300 metres) in temperatures up to International Standard Atmosphere (ISA) +32 degrees celsius which included envelope expansion, performance and flying qualities. In February this year, the HAL delivered the first three Advanced Light Helicopters named Dhruv as part of the 22 ALH MK-III contract to the Indian Army during the ongoing Aero India air show.

HAL had entered into a contract with the Indian Army for 40 ALH (22 ALH Mk III and 18 Mk IV Rudra) in August 2017.The LUH then lifted off from Leh (Jammu and Kashmir) and demonstrated its hot and high hover performance at Daulat Beg Oldie Advanced Landing Ground at 5000 m followed by another forward helipad (5500m at ISA + 27 degree C), it said.

The helicopter embarked on a 3000 km flight from Bengaluru to Leh over a period of three days traversing many civil and military airfields.The LUH has completed hot weather trials at Nagpur in 2018, cold weather trials at Leh in Jammu and Kashmir 2019 and sea level trials at Chennai in 2018 and at Puducherry in 2019, HAL said. 

(With PTI inputs)

HIGHLIGHTS

• LUH successfully completed the high altitude capability
• A comprehensive test plan was executed at Leh
• The helicopter embarked on a 3000 km flight from Bengaluru