The Safran Ardiden is a 1,400–2,000 hp (1,000–1,500 kW) turboshaft designed and produced by Safran Helicopter Engines for 5–8 t (11,000–18,000 lb) single and twin-engine helicopters . Launched in 2003 as a more powerful TM 333 , it first ran in 2005 and was introduced in 2007.
76-695: The Ardiden 1 Shakti powers the Indian HAL Dhruv , HAL Prachand and HAL Light Utility Helicopter while the more powerful Ardiden 3 powers the Avicopter AC352 and Kamov Ka-62 . In 1961, Turbomeca granted Hindustan Aeronautics Limited a manufacturing license for the Artouste turboshaft engine to equip the Indian HAL Chetak ( Alouette III ) and HAL Cheetah ( SA 315B Lama ) helicopters. By September 2000, HAL had contracted with Turbomeca to develop
152-545: A centrifugal compressor , and the power turbine went from one to two stages, while the two channel FADEC came from the TM3332E. Then expected to enter service in 2005, its estimated market was 1,500 engines over the first 15 years. By July 2002, Turbomeca was ready to launch the 900 kW (1,200 hp) engine development with HAL for 11% for the ALH, then renamed Dhruv. The TM333 was derated from 800 to 765 kW (1,073 to 1,026 hp) for
228-500: A "Customer Demonstration Flight" and second was when a three ship flotilla (including INS Delhi , INS Shakti and [[INS Kiltan (P30)| INS Kiltan ]]) visited Manila , Philippines in May 2024. Egypt : Egypt stated in 2022 that it was interested in acquiring the ALH. Argentina : The Argentinian Ministry of Defense signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to procure the Dhruv for
304-464: A crash landing of a Dhruv, the entire fleet was grounded when it was discovered to have been caused by excessive vibration of the tail rotor. Following a redesign which incorporated new materials in addition to changes in design methodology, the Dhruv undertook recertification and returned to service shortly after March 2006. In April 2007, a report published by the Indian Committee of Defence noted
380-403: A diverse range of vehicles and machinery, including cars, trucks, buses, light commercial vehicles , off-road equipment, rail vehicles , helicopters, motorcycles, lift trucks, machinery and system construction, test systems, cranes, as well as special marine, military and agricultural vehicles and equipment. The ZF Lenksysteme division, a joint venture between ZF and Bosch , specializes in
456-450: A few accidents have not caused any fatalities. In September 2024, HAL assigned TimeTooth Technologies, based in Bengaluru , for indigenisation of Rotor Damp System to be used on ALH Dhruv and HAL Prachand . The project involves development and qualification of the system for the next two years followed by its production and supply would be for a period of 5 years and beyond. The majority of
532-433: A future European UAV , in cooperation with ZF Luftfahrttechnik for the gearbox and MT-Propeller for the propeller. The FADEC would manage both power and propeller pitch for operation up to 13,716 meters / 45,000 ft. The Tech TP compact, lightweight architecture targets a 15% lower fuel consumption over current engines. On 21 July 2020, a memorandum of agreement was signed between Safran and ZF, targeting flight testing of
608-494: A joint venture with Guangxi LiuGong Machinery Co., manufactures driveline components for construction machinery. ZF's presence in India includes joint ventures and license partnerships spanning over three decades. ZF India Private Ltd., operational since 2007 in Pune, focuses on axles, off-road driveline technology, and commercial vehicle technology. The facility includes factory buildings,
684-530: A modern surveillance radar and electro-optical equipment to carry out maritime reconnaissance as well as long-range search and rescue missions, an HMG and the capability to mount at least 2 ASW torpedoes. HAL is currently developing an advanced variant of the ALH Dhruv to address the specific needs of the Indian Navy. The helicopter is to be purpose-built for ship-borne uses. The UH-M programme has its origin from
760-697: A more powerful version of the ALH 's TM 333 2B2, from 747 to 800 kW (1,002 to 1,073 hp). By January 2002, Turbomeca had begun developing the 1,200 hp (890 kW) Ardiden TM3332C2 for 5–6 t (11,000–13,000 lb) helicopters, launched at the Paris Air Show for the LAH as the Shakti , co-developed and assembled by HAL, as the US lifted India's 1998 nuclear tests sanctions. The TM3332B2 first two axial stages were replaced by
836-651: A partnership with Aeva Inc. to put LIDAR sensors for self-driving vehicles, into production. Some of the most important milestones: ZF Friedrichshafen manufactures automatic and manual transmissions for cars, trucks, buses and construction equipment; chassis components (ball joints, tie rods, cross-axis joints, stabiliser bars, control arms); shock absorbers and suspension struts; electronic damping systems including Continuous Damping Control (CDC), Active Roll Stabilization (ARS); clutches; torque converters ; differentials ; axle drives; and industrial drives. ZF products include ZF components are utilized across
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#1733085847642912-654: A second Mk.III equipped with a weather radar was donated in December 2013. The first helicopter is based at Addu Atoll and the second will be based at Hanimaadhoo . Myanmar : In 2007, Amnesty International stated it possessed evidence that India planned to transfer two Dhruvs to Burma , and pointed to the use of European-sourced components as a possible violation of the European Union (EU) arms embargo against that country. The Indian government disputed Amnesty's claims and denied any wrongdoing. Nepal : In early 2004,
988-717: A standalone entity, ZF Lifetec, focusing on vehicle safety tests and equipment. ZF Group operates globally, with Europe as its primary market, followed by the Asia-Pacific region, North and South America and Middle East & Africa. The company maintains six research and development (R&D) centers worldwide to tailor product development to local markets, investing approximately 5% of its sales revenue annually in R&;D. In Great Britain , ZF has been active since 1973. The manufacturing base in Darlaston supplies chassis components to
1064-412: A two-stage centrifugal compressor , then a reverse flow annular combustor , a single stage axial gas generator turbine followed by a two-stage axial free turbine outputting its power to the front by a concentric shaft, and is controlled by a dual-channel digital engine electronic control unit . Related development Comparable engines Related lists HAL Dhruv The HAL Dhruv
1140-585: Is a utility helicopter designed and developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in November 1984. The helicopter first flew in 1992; its development was prolonged due to multiple factors including the Indian Army 's requirement for design changes, budget restrictions, and sanctions placed on India following the 1998 Pokhran-II nuclear tests. The name comes from a Sanskrit origin word dhruv which means unshakeable or firm. Dhruv entered service in 2002. It
1216-686: Is also being evaluated by the Indonesian Army. Philippines : The HAL Annual Report for 2020-21, indicated that the Philippine Coast Guard is interested to potentially buy 7 Dhruvs via Indian-based credit. It is reported that that the PCG is looking at the Dhruv ALH. There has been to instances when the capabilities of Dhruv were demonstrated to Philippines. First was when PCG chief visited Indian Coast Guard facility at Goa in 2023 and took part in
1292-495: Is also being planned in order to tap the large civilian market there. Russia : In July 2006, the then Chief of Air Staff , Air Chief Marshal Shashindra Pal Tyagi commented that India could purchase as many as 80 Mi-17 helicopters if Russia in turn bought Dhruv helicopters in exchange. South America : HAL has reportedly been negotiating with Bolivia for five Dhruvs; and with Venezuela for up to seven. Southeast Asia : The Dhruv has also been offered to Malaysia, while it
1368-527: Is also developing the light combat helicopter (LCH) based on the Dhruv for the Indian Armed Forces. It is fitted with stub wings for carrying up to eight anti-armour missiles, four air-to-air missiles, or four pods loaded with either 70 mm or 68 mm rockets. The LCH will also have forward-looking infrared (FLIR), a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera, and a target acquisition system with laser rangefinder and thermal vision. In 2005, following
1444-701: Is also involved in the rail, marine, defense and aviation industries, as well as general industrial applications. ZF has 162 production locations in 31 countries with approximately 168,700 (2023) employees. The company was founded by Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin , the inventor of the zeppelin airship and engineer Alfred von Soden-Fraunhofen in 1915 in Friedrichshafen , Germany as a subsidiary of Luftschiffbau Zeppelin , to manufacture gears for zeppelins and other airships . The German Zahnradfabrik translates to 'gear factory' or cogwheel factory' in English. In 1999,
1520-509: Is an attack variant designed for the Indian Army. Development was sanctioned in December 1998 and the prototype first flew on 16 August 2007; it is to be armed with both anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles, and a 20-mm turret-mounted cannon. The Dhruv-WSI is to be capable of conducting combat air support (CAS) and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) roles as well. In addition to the Dhruv-WSI, HAL
1596-627: Is designed to meet the requirement of both military and civil operators, with military variants of the helicopter being developed for the Indian Armed Forces , while a variant for civilian/commercial use has also been developed. Military versions in production include transport, utility, reconnaissance and medical evacuation variants. As of January 2024, more than 400 Dhruvs had been produced for domestic and export markets logging more than 340,000 flying hours. The Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) program for an indigenous 5-ton multirole helicopter
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#17330858476421672-471: Is headquartered in Friedrichshafen , in the south-west German state of Baden-Württemberg . Specializing in engineering, it is primarily known for its design, research and development, and manufacturing activities in the automotive industry and is one of the largest automotive suppliers in the world. Its products include driveline and chassis technology for cars and commercial vehicles, along with specialized plant equipment such as construction equipment. It
1748-685: Is to replace the Navy's ageing Chetak fleet. The Indian Navy is to place an order of at least 50 helicopters in the first phase. The maritime wheeled version of Dhruv having segmented Main Rotor Blades (MRBs) and Main Rotor Head (MRH) in pre-cone configuration completed its first flight on 30 June 2022. By March 2023, tail boom folding has been demonstrated. Reportedly, the UH-M will also showcase anti-ship missile and torpedo firing capability. On 16 March 2023,
1824-483: The 2011 Sikkim earthquake , four Dhruvs conducted rescue operations. In October 2011, Jharkhand's regional government appealed for Mil Mi-17 helicopters as operations of their Dhruvs had been disrupted by prolonged maintenance delays and a major crash. In October 2011, The Telegraph reported that a spate of helicopter crashes, including the Dhruv, were alleged to have been caused by low quality maintenance work performed by Pawan Hans Helicopters Ltd. In February 2012,
1900-399: The 2013 North India floods . Their compact size, agility, ability to carry up to 16 people to heights of 10,000 feet, and to evacuate stranded people from inaccessible regions was praised. The Dhruv could carry more people from high-altitude helipads than the heavier Mi-17 , and land where the lighter Bell 407 could not. Total flight time during Operation Rahat and Operation Surya Hope
1976-678: The Armed Forces of the Argentine Republic on July 20, 2023. Chile : The Dhruv participated in a Chilean tender for eight to ten twin-engined helicopters, conducting a series of evaluation flights to demonstrate the capabilities of its avionics and flight performance; however, it lost out to the Bell 412 , although there were media accusations of unfair pressure being exercised by the US Government to favour Bell. HAL has secured an order from
2052-526: The Border Security Force . 75 Dhruvs were delivered to the Indian armed forces by 2007, and as of 2008 it was planned to produce 40 helicopters annually. The Indian Air Force 's Sarang aerobatic display team performs using 4 Dhruv helicopters. On 23 December 2007, a further order of 159 helicopters, worth ₹ 14,000 crore (equivalent to ₹ 420 billion or US$ 5.1 billion in 2023), for
2128-1406: The Ecomat introduced in 1980, are widely used in buses. ZF Lemförder and ZF Sachs AG are specialized divisions within ZF, focusing on the production of both original equipment and aftermarket auto parts. ZF Friedrichshafen is organized into nine divisions, each focusing on different aspects of automotive and industrial technology: Sales (2020): €4,987 million. Products: Electronic Stability Control, Integrated Brake Control, Electric Park Brakes, Electrically Powered Steering Systems, and Electrically Powered Hydraulic Steering Systems. Sales (2020): €6,680 million. Products: Chassis components for wheel guidance, complete front and rear axles, passive and semi-active dampers, and electromechanical active chassis systems. Sales (2020): €8,459 million. Products: Automatic Transmissions, Automated Manual Transmissions, Manual Transmissions, Dual-Clutch Automatic Transmissions, Powertrain Modules, Electronic Systems, Electric Motors, Electric Vehicle Drives, and Electronic Interfaces. Sales (2020): €1,561 million. Products: Advanced driver assistance systems, sensor technologies, integrated electronics, advanced safety domain control units, safety electronics such as airbag electronic control units, and crash sensors for
2204-694: The Ecuadorian Air Force (EAF) for seven Dhruvs, amidst strong competition from Elbit , Eurocopter and Kazan . HAL's offer of US$ 50.7 million was about 32 percent lower than the second lowest bid from Elbit . Five helicopters were delivered in February 2009, during Aero India 2009. Both the Ecuadorian Army and Ecuadorian Navy have since expressed interest in the Dhruvs. The Dhruv has been involved in search and rescue, transport, and MEDEVAC missions in
2280-519: The Home Ministry reported that the Dhruv remained grounded and that other helicopters such as the Mi-17 were being wet-leased in its place and that in the long term the Dhruv fleet is to be replaced. In February 2012, HAL reported that the Indian Army and Air Force had ordered a further 159 units of Dhruv helicopters. Six Army Dhruvs along with 18 Air Force Dhruvs were used during rescue operations after
2356-611: The Leh -based 205 Aviation Squadron on 7 February 2011 during a ceremony at HAL's Helicopter Division. In July 2011, India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation certified a Dhruv simulator developed by HAL and Canadian developer CAE Inc ; the simulator is easily modifiable to simulate different variants of the Dhruv and other helicopters such as the Eurocopter Dauphin . Defence Bioengineering and Electromedical Laboratory (DEBEL) has been developing an oxygen life-support system to improve
Safran Ardiden - Misplaced Pages Continue
2432-467: The 1,700-2,000shp (1,260-1,490kW) Ardiden 3TP from 2022. The 11 t EuroMALE UAV, set for a 2024 first flight, is a goal as a first platform, before civil applications. The Ardiden 1 offers 1,400 to 1,700 hp (1,000 to 1,300 kW) and the Ardiden 3 covers the 1,700–2,000 hp (1,300–1,500 kW) range, for 5 to 8 t (11,000 to 18,000 lb) single and twin-engine helicopters. The Ardiden has
2508-611: The Ardiden to compete with the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6 and General Electric Catalyst , based on its Tech-TP demonstrator, part of the EU's Clean Sky 2 programme, for first ground runs in the coming months. The first ground run happened on 12 June in Tarnos ; the complete propulsion system include the nacelle , air intake and propeller while the accessory gearbox and propeller controller include more electric technologies. It could be used for
2584-848: The British automotive industry, including Jaguar, BMW, and Land Rover. ZF Great Britain Ltd. in Nottingham also has a remanufacturing facility and customer support operations. In the NAFTA region, ZF operates 16 locations, including an R&D center near Detroit and a manufacturing plant in Laurens County , South Carolina, which began production in 2013. ZF has a significant presence in Asia, focusing on China , Korea, Japan, and Australia. Liuzhou ZF Machinery Co., Ltd. in China,
2660-620: The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) approved the Utility Helicopter-Maritime programme for the Indian Navy. ZF Friedrichshafen ZF Friedrichshafen AG , also known as ZF Group , originally Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen ( lit. ' Cogwheel Factory of Friedrichshafen ' ), and commonly abbreviated to ZF , is a German technology manufacturing company that supplies systems for passenger cars, commercial vehicles and industrial technology. It
2736-406: The Dhruv as one of four "focus areas" identified as having high export potential. In January 2011, HAL and partner Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) announced that they were jointly developing the Dhruv to operate as an unmanned maritime helicopter, stating customer interest in such a feature. The first five production Dhruv Mk III, powered by the more powerful Shakti-1H engine, were delivered to
2812-452: The Dhruv for maritime surveillance and search and rescue roles, and in 2008 a senior Navy official said: "The ALH has a long way to go before the programme matures sufficiently for it to undertake basic naval roles such as search and rescue (SAR) and communication duties." In 2013, the Indian Navy was reportedly interested in the HAL Rudra , the armed version of the Dhruv. On 12 November 2013,
2888-412: The Dhruv for offshore operations. Several Indian state governments are to use Dhruvs for police and transportation duties. In March 2011, India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation released a proposed airworthiness directive asking all civilian Dhruv operators to temporarily ground their aircraft due to cracks potentially forming in the tail area, and recommended reinforcing affected areas. Following
2964-447: The Dhruv on 16 August 2007. By late 2007, HAL started fitting the Shakti for Dhruvs produced from then. The Ardiden 3G was certified in June 2017 and by 2018, 250 Ardiden 1 were in service. By September 2019, the Ardiden 1 engines had completed 200,000 flying hours, and the Ardiden 3C/3G had completed over 10,000 hours of tests. By April 2019, Safran was considering a turboprop version of
3040-563: The Dhruv, IAI has also helped develop new avionics and a glass cockpit for newer variants of the Dhruv. With a unit price at least 15 percent less than its rivals, the Dhruv has elicited interest in many countries, mostly from Latin America, Africa, West Asia, South East Asia and the Pacific Rim nations. Air forces from around 35 countries have made inquiries, along with requests for demonstrations. Flight certification for Europe and North America
3116-570: The Dhruv, and the Ardiden 1H Shakti would be derated from 1,070 to 900 kW (1,430 to 1,210 hp). The Ardiden 1A was designed to for the Eurocopter EC155 HP+, and the Ardiden 2K for the Agusta-Bell AB.139 . It would slot between the 485–740 kW (650–992 hp) Arriel and the 1,240–1,565 kW (1,663–2,099 hp) Makila for 5-6 t (11,000-13,250lb) medium twins. At $ 500,000, it would be 40% cheaper than 900kW competitors like
Safran Ardiden - Misplaced Pages Continue
3192-416: The Dhruv, as well as avionics for day-and-night flight observation. HAL's claim that the Dhruv is indigenous has been challenged by 5h3 Comptroller and Auditor General of India , who reported that as of August 2010 the helicopter was: "...against the envisaged indigenisation level of 50% (by 2008), 90% of the value of material used in each ALH is still imported from foreign suppliers". In September 2010, it
3268-450: The EAF were reported to be satisfied with the Dhruv's performance and was considering further orders. By October 2015, a total of four Ecuadorian Dhruvs had crashed reportedly due to mechanical equipment and Ecuador grounded the type. In October 2015 Ecuador cancelled the contract and withdrew the surviving helicopters from service, non-delivery of parts and high accident rate were cited. In 2016,
3344-708: The Ecuadorian Minister of Defense Ricardo Patiño announced that the remainder of the HAL Dhruv helicopters of the Ecuadorian Air Force, which are stored at the Guayaquil Air Base are for sale and that the Air Force is looking for potential buyers. The Government of Ecuador had unilaterally terminated the contract with HAL citing safety concerns of the helicopters. A HAL spokesman said that while maintenance
3420-652: The Honeywell/Rolls-Royce LHTEC CTS800 and the MTU/Turbomeca/R-R MTR390 . The first test run was then expected in early 2004, flight-testing by the end of the same year, certification by the end of 2005 and entry into service by 2006. It was launched in February 2003 at the Aero India show with a large order from HAL, to be used in 6-6.5 t (13,200-14,300lb) helicopters. HAL was to supply one-tenth of its components. By October 2005, Turbomeca ran
3496-832: The IDS in Italy in order to isolate the problem with the early testing of the Dhruv subsequently being criticized as "rushed". In June 2011, HAL has reported that the issue had been resolved and not present in the Dhruv Mk III; a number of alterations both to the design and production had been made to improve the IDS. A programme of retrofitting the Mk I and Mk II was completed by June 2011. The ALH Mk-III with new Shakti-1H engines has better and improved high altitude performance operating at altitudes over 6 km. It comes with seating for 14 fully equipped troops. DGCA has reportedly praised its crashworthy design as
3572-627: The Indian Army and Air Force was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS). By 2007, Indian Air Force operationalised two ALH squadrons in Yelehanka AFS in Bengaluru and Sarsawa AFS . The Dhruv is capable of flying at high altitudes, as it was an Army requirement for the helicopter to be able operate in the Siachen Glacier and Kashmir regions. In September 2007, the Dhruv Mk.3
3648-488: The Indian Navy commissioned their first Dhruv squadron ( INAS 322 , Guardians); Vice Admiral Sinha stated that "In the Navy, Dhruv helicopters had transformed into an advanced search and rescue (SAR) helicopter, which is also used for missions like heliborne operations, and armed patrol with night vision devices". Civil Dhruv variants are produced for transport, rescue, policing, offshore operations, air-ambulance, and other roles. The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation are to use
3724-659: The Indian Navy tweeted that it has received the Advanced Light Helicopter MK III (MR) alongside the Indian Coast Guard. In February 2021, HAL announced that it had rolled out the 300th Advance Light Helicopter out of its production line in Bangalore. As of September 2024, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) chose HAL Dhruv for its operations to fly out personnel and equipment from offshore oil rigs. The helicopters will be operated by Pawan Hans . Dhruv won
3800-443: The Indian Navy will deploy the Dhruv in the utility role. The proposed anti-submarine warfare (ASW) variant had been deemed unsuitable by the Navy, which was reportedly dissatisfied with the folding blade performance and maintenance record. In 2015, HAL modified the foldable rotor's design to allow the Dhruv to be carried on board light frigates; several Indian Navy helicopters shall receive this modification. The Navy has considered
3876-511: The Navy's Naval Utility Helicopter (NUH) acquisition programme. The Navy issued a requirement of 111 units of utility helicopters. The programme was cleared by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) – the main acquisition panel under the Ministry of Defence (MoD) headed by the then Minister of Defence Nirmala Sitharaman on 25 August 2018 though the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) document. The cost of
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#17330858476423952-559: The TM333 engine. As a consequence the Army had to continue relying on the older Cheetah/Cheetal helicopters to meet the shortfall. The more powerful Shakti-1H engine has since been introduced on the Dhruv Mk.3; on one test it carried 600 kg load to Sonam Post against the Army's requirement of 200 kg. The Indian Army received the first batch of Dhruv Mk.3s during Aero India 2011. In October 2008, Defence Minister A. K. Antony announced that
4028-1115: The automotive industry. Sales (2020): €3,503 million. Products: Airbags, airbag inflators, seat belt systems, and steering wheels. Sales (2020): €1,539 million. Products: Braking control systems and advanced technologies that enhance the safety, efficiency, and connectivity of commercial vehicles. Sales (2020): €3,307 million. Products: Automated, manual, and powershift transmissions, drive components such as clutches and electric drives, ADAS technology including automated, camera and radar-based comfort and safety functions for trucks and buses, chassis systems, chassis components, and steering systems for vehicles. Sales (2020): €2,687 million. Products: Transmissions and axles for agricultural and construction machinery, driveline technology for material handling systems, rail and special vehicles, marine propulsion systems, aviation technology, gearboxes for wind turbines and industrial applications, and test systems for driveline and chassis technology. Sales (2020): €2,522 million. Brands: ZF, LEMFÖRDER, SACHS, TRW, and BOGE. TRW Automotive, based in Livonia, Michigan ,
4104-641: The combined effects of the loan and restructuring will eliminate the need for further employee reduction. On 16 September 2014, the Wall Street Journal reported that ZF agreed to acquire TRW Automotive Holdings for $ 13.5 billion. The acquisition would create the world's second largest automotive parts concern, ranked just behind Robert Bosch GmbH . For clearing way to acquire TRW Automotive Holdings , ZF Friedrichshafen AG sold its stake in ZF Lenksysteme GmbH to Robert Bosch GmbH . ZF Lenksysteme GmbH has now been renamed as Robert Bosch Automotive Steering GmbH. In September 2020, ZF Friedrichshafen AG entered
4180-415: The competition after a competitive bidding with foreign bidders. Israel : A civilian Dhruv was leased to the Israeli Defense Ministry in 2004; IAI has also made use of the Defense Ministry's Dhruv for marketing and public relations purposes. Maldives : In April 2010, the Indian Navy gifted a Dhruv to the Maldives National Defence Force for conducting search and rescue and medical evacuation, while
4256-506: The deal was included in the third "positive indigenisation list". Meanwhile, HAL had carried out a joint study of ALH Dhruv to increase the MTOW to 5.7 tonnes, reduce the empty weight and increase the overall payload capacity to 600 kg. The modifications also included "reduced stowage dimensions to meet requirement with foldable two segment blades and modified upper control system and Aircraft Ship Integrated Secure and Traverse (ASIST) traversing interface for ship deck." The programme
4332-402: The first example in Tarbes , planning a July 2006 first flight. HAL has an 11% stake in development and 21% of the manufacture: the gearbox, power turbine and part of the HP compressor. The design include the single-crystal HP turbine blades and new ceramic coatings to run without cooling, for 20% of growth potential. Developed by India for 19%, the Shakti made its first test flight on
4408-444: The first foreign order for the Dhruv was placed by Nepal for two examples. In November 2014, India gifted another Dhruv to Nepali Army as part of a strategic pact. Peru : In June 2008, the government of Peru ordered two air ambulance Dhruvs for use by the Peruvian Health Services. Turkey : In August 2008, a deal was reportedly finalised with Turkey for three Dhruvs for US$ 20 million, with plans to buy as many as 17 of
4484-490: The fuselage is of Kevlar and carbon-fibre construction; it is also fitted with crumple zones and crashworthy seats. The aircraft is equipped with a SFIM Inc four-axis automatic flight control system. Avionics systems include a HF/UHF communications radio, IFF recognition, Doppler navigation, and a radio altimeter; a weather radar and the Omega navigation system were options for the naval variant. IAI has also developed targeting systems and an electronic warfare suite for
4560-458: The helicopter's high-altitude performance, and as of August 2010 the IAF has ordered development of this system for the Dhruv. The HAL Dhruv is of conventional design; about 29 percent of its empty weight (constituting 60 percent of the airframe's surface area) is composite materials. It has been reported that the unique carbon fibre composite developed by HAL reduced the helicopter's weight by 50 percent. The high tail boom allows easy access to
4636-450: The helicopters for use in the medical assistance role. The Dhruv has become the first major Indian weapons system to have secured large foreign sales. In 2004, HAL stated that it hoped to sell 120 Dhruvs over the next eight years, and has been displaying the Dhruv at air shows, including Farnborough and Paris in order to market the Dhruv. HAL had entered into a partnership with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) to develop and promote
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#17330858476424712-436: The north of the country. Following the crash of one of the Dhruvs in October 2009, Ecuador reportedly considered returning their six helicopters to HAL amid claims of being unfit for service; EAF commander Genl. Rodrigo Bohorquez stated "If it is a major problem that can't be easily remedied, we would have to return [the Dhruv]." HAL assisted the crash investigation, which found the cause to be pilot error. In February 2011,
4788-411: The production of steering systems and components. This includes steering columns, gears, pumps, Electric Power Steering (EPS), and Active Steering systems. In response to the increasing adoption of automatic transmissions in buses, ZF developed the ZF AS Tronic transmission. The company also produces a range of manual and automatic transmissions for trucks and buses. Notably, ZF transmissions, such as
4864-460: The programme was set at ₹ 21,000 crore (equivalent to ₹ 280 billion or US$ 3.4 billion in 2023). The requirement would be fulfilled through the Strategic Partnership (SP) model including an Indian and a foreign Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) under the Make in India initiative. According to a report in April 2022, the Expression of Interest (EoI) to OEMs and Strategic Partners were issued in February 2019. However,
4940-454: The project will be funded by the private company itself. The production order value is expected to exceed $ 5 million within the 5-year period. Deliveries of the Dhruv commenced in January 2002, nine years after the prototype's first flight, and nearly eighteen years after the program was initiated. The Indian Coast Guard was the first service to operate the Dhruv; this was followed by the Indian Army , Indian Navy , Indian Air Force and
5016-533: The rear doors. The twin 1000 shp Turbomeca TM333-2B2 turboshafts are mounted above the cabin and drive a four-blade composite main rotor. The main rotor can be manually folded; the blades are mounted between carbon-fibre-reinforced plates, the rotor head is constructed from fibre elastomers. In February 2004, US helicopter company Lord Corporation were awarded a contract to develop an active vibration control system (AVCS), which monitors onboard conditions and cancels out fuselage vibrations. The cockpit section of
5092-432: The same time a weight-reduction programme was initiated. However, further delays in development were caused when sanctions were implemented against India following a number of Pokhran-II nuclear tests in 1998 and India's continued refusal to sign the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty . As a result, the intended engine for the helicopter, the LHTEC T800 , was embargoed . The Turbomeca TM 333-2B2 turboshaft engine
5168-475: The steering systems division was made separate and became the new ZF Lenksysteme GmbH, a joint venture between ZF Friedrichshafen and Robert Bosch GmbH . Due to the 2008 financial crisis ZF took a €250 million loan from the state-owned KfW Bank and embarked on a company-wide restructure that shut down unprofitable locations, particularly outside Germany, the total number of employees was reduced from 63,000 to 59,000 worldwide. CEO Hans-Georg Härter stated that
5244-507: The then-Indian Vice President K R Narayanan in attendance. This was followed by a second prototype (Z-3183) on 18 April 1993, an Army/Air Force version (Z-3268), and a navalised prototype (IN.901) with Allied Signal CTS800 engines and a retractable tricycle undercarriage. Development problems arose due to changing military demands and a funding shortfall in the wake of the 1991 Indian economic crisis . Naval testing on board INS Viraat and other ships started in March 1998, and around
5320-501: Was 630 hours, of which 550 hours were dedicated to SAR missions. In January 2014, the Geological Survey of India (GSI) inducted a Dhruv equipped with a heliborne geophysical survey system (HGSS). Costing ₹ 63 crore (US$ 8 million), the HGSS can conduct magnetic, spectrometric and gravity surveys. In May 2018, Israel Aerospace Industries was awarded a contract to upgrade cockpits of 150 Dhruv helicopters, in addition to 50 that had been contracted earlier. On February 5, 2021,
5396-404: Was cleared for high-altitude flying in the Siachen Sector after six months of trials. In October 2007, a Dhruv Mk.3 flew to an altitude of 27,500 feet (8,400 m) ASL in Siachen. An Indian Army report in 2009 criticised the Dhruv's performance, stating: "The ALH was not able to fly above 5,000m, though the army's requirements stipulated an ability to fly up to 6,500m"; this has been blamed on
5472-555: Was initiated in May 1979 by the Indian Air Force and Indian Naval Air Arm . HAL were given a contract by the Indian government in 1984 to develop the helicopter; Germany's Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB) were contracted in July 1984 as a design consultant and collaborative partner on the programme. Although originally scheduled to fly in 1989, the first prototype ALH (Z-3182) made its maiden flight on 20 August 1992 at Bangalore with
5548-549: Was originally the automotive division of TRW Inc. , established in 2002. It specializes in designing, manufacturing, and selling automotive safety systems . With approximately 200 facilities and 66,100 employees across 26 countries, TRW Automotive was acquired by ZF Friedrichshafen in 2015 and now forms the Active & Passive Safety Technology division. In October 2022, ZF spun off the Passive Safety Systems division into
5624-491: Was reported that the Dhruv's Integrated Dynamic System (IDS), which combines several key rotor control functions into a single module carrying the engine's power to the rotors, was suffering from excessive wear, necessitating frequent replacement; as a consequence the cruising speed had been restricted to 250 km/h and high-altitude performance was lessened as well. HAL contracted Italian aerospace firm Avio for consultancy purposes and they subsequently replicated production of
5700-612: Was selected as a replacement; in addition, Turbomeca agreed to co-develop a more powerful engine with HAL, originally known as the Ardiden . Turbomeca also assisted in the development of the helicopter; stress analysis and studies of rotor dynamics were conducted in France. The first flight of Dhruv with the new engine variant, called the Shakti , took place on 16 August 2007. The HAL Rudra , earlier known as Dhruv-WSI ( Weapons Systems Integrated ),
5776-461: Was supposed to be done by the EAF due to the warranty period being expired, the company was willing to assist them to make sure that the Dhruvs were operational. Quito declined further assistance. Same in performance to the Mk.3 however, has additional equipment such as a cabin mountain MG, High Intensity Search Light and a loud hailer. It is armed with a 12.7 mm HMG. Has additional equipment such as
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