HAL's Dhruv New Generation (NG)
helicopter successfully completed its inaugural flight on 30 December 2025,
marking HAL's firm entry into the civil aviation helicopter sector and a
significant milestone in India's journey towards 'Aatmanirbharta' in civil
aviation. Mr. Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, Minister of Civil Aviation, flagged
off the inaugural flight in the presence of Dr D K Sunil, CMD, HAL, Maneesh
Kumar, JDG, DGCA, Sanjeev Razdan, CMD, Pawan Hans Ltd and senior HAL
officials at Helicopter Division, Bengaluru.
During the event, HAL also received the
Certification of 'Indigenous manufacturing of Shakti Civil Engine' from the
Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). This is the first time that an
aero engine has been certified by DGCA for indigenous production, representing
a major leap forward in India's self-reliance in critical technologies. This
landmark achievement has been made possible with the participation of Safran
Engines and the close coordination of the DGCA. Dhruv NG is progressing well
towards full civil certification in the next three to four months.
Terming it as a flight of Aatmanirbhar
Bharat, Mr. Ram Mohan Naidu stated, "This flight marks an important
milestone in Indian aviation. I can see the Sankalp of a Viksit Bharat taking
wings. HAL has successfully conducted the inaugural flight within a year of
showcasing the demo. Dhruv NG has emerged as a platform for several operators.
The 'Make in India' is now a seal of global quality."
Dr D K Sunil, CMD, HAL, stated,
"Dhruv 'New Gen' helicopter is the cornerstone of HAL's civil
expansion. The Dhruv Mk.1 Civil platform has already clocked over 24,000
hours and has been specifically upgraded to meet the rigorous demands of the
global civil aviation market, marking a milestone in India's indigenous
rotary-wing capability. The Dhruv NG offers enhanced safety, high performance
and cost-effectiveness, making it a strong alternative to imported helicopters.
We are working closely with the DGCA to ensure globally aligned certification
standards."
Designed and manufactured by HAL, the
Dhruv NG is a 5.5-tonne, light twin-engine, multi-role helicopter engineered to
master the diverse and demanding requirements of the Indian terrain.
Equipped with twin Shakti 1H1C engines,
the helicopter features a world-class, civil-certified Glass Cockpit (compliant
to AS4 requirements) and a modern avionics suite for situational awareness. To
enhance safety and reliability, Dhruv NG incorporates crashworthy seats,
self-sealing fuel tanks, and a proven twin-engine configuration for high
redundancy. The advanced vibration control systems ensure a smooth ride,
tailored for VIP and medical transport.
HAL offers a "One-Stop
Solution" for manufacturing, maintenance, and upgrades. Operational
support is provided through integrated logistics models, including
Power-By-Hour (PBH) and Performance-Based Logistics (PBL), ensuring high fleet
serviceability.
Text
and images: HAL