Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) is within months of scoring an Asian first by becoming the region's only company to develop and produce its own helicopter by assembling, as it expects to later this year, a utility version of its Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) for the Indian Army.

HAL is close to achieving an ambition (set in the late 1970s) to produce an indigenously developed helicopter to meet an armed-forces requirement for a twin-engined aircraft.

The Government in New Delhi recently put the seal on HAL's plans by agreeing a firm order for 100 utility versions of the helicopter, having earlier signed a letter of intent for 300 in the utility, naval and light-attack roles. Along with a civil version, the programme is set to become the first aviation project likely to make an impact in the export market in the 55 years of HAL's existence.

With the naval, utility and civil types well under way, the development plan for the ALH is expected to be completed with work on the light-attack variant - a decision on whether to proceed is expected from the Indian Government in the next few months. Beyond 2000, the Indians are also planning a dedicated attack helicopter based on the dynamics of the ALH.

The utility version has a skid landing gear, a design gross weight of 4,500kg and a maximum take-off weight of 5,500kg - although the helicopter is slightly too heavy and is now the subject of a weight-reduction process (Flight Inter- national, 11-17 December, 1996). The cabin is large enough to carry 12 passengers - 14 at a pinch - and two crew.

One of the key requirements of the Indian army is that the helicopter is able to carry 250kg of supplies to troops stationed at an altitude of about 20,000ft (6,100m) on the Siachin Glacier on the north-western border with Pakistan. As a result, the hot-and-high performance of the ALH is one of its strongest features.

The naval version is slightly heavier, with a retractable tricycle landing gear and folding main rotor blades, and other minor alterations to make it suitable for deployment at sea. The light-attack version was demonstrated with mock-up sensors and weapons at the Aero India show in Bangalore in December. The helicopter will be able to carry pylon-mounted rockets and the locally developed Nag anti-tank missile. It also has a three-barrel 20mm machine gun.

The first prototype, fitted with a Turboméca TM333-2B engine had its maiden flight in August 1992, followed by three other helicopters, including those for army and naval applications - the latter equipped with an LHTEC CTS800 turboshaft. The civil version, probably fitted with the CTS800, is expected to be flown this year. Indian certification is set for 1998.

 

Engine choice awaited

No engine selection for the production versions has yet been made, and this, along with choosing the supplier of the five-screen multi-function displays (MFDs), are the major outstanding equipment issues to be resolved. GEC-Marconi Avionics, Sextant Avionique and Astronautics are the three shortlisted companies bidding for the MFD.

The ALH's design has been heavily influenced by the expertise of MBB (now the German arm of Eurocopter), with the European company signing a design-collaboration deal in 1984 which was only dissolved some two years ago. Now, HAL is again searching for Western expertise, but this time to help the company into the export market with the civil version. To date, there have been no takers. Eurocopter is still a possible candidate, but others such as Bell Helicopter Textron have rejected overtures from HAL as it seeks marketing and product-support credibility. A partner is also needed to help HAL attempt the daunting task of trying to achieve its first US Federal Aviation Administration certification.

Deliveries are due to start in 1998, with the Indian army receiving the first utility versions of the helicopter. HAL chairman RN Sharma expects production to reach three a month by 1999, rising eventually to four a month if demand is justified by Government and civil sales.

The ALH represents the first opportunity which the industry has had to demonstrate that the large amounts of development funds provided by a series of cash-strapped governments over the last 15 years or so has been wisely spent.

This is the first helicopter ever developed by the Indians - although they have previously built versions of the Aerospatiale Alouette and Lama under licence.

While not having the same appeal as helicopters such as the Bell 412 or Eurocopter AS365, the Indian machine has some advanced technologies, such as a hingeless main rotor, integrated dynamic system, anti-resonance isolation system and bearingless tail rotor. Composites account for about 30% of the structure by weight.

With a large local military requirement, the success of the ALH is assured. The huge untapped potential of the Indian civil-helicopter market, along with an attractive price, should boost HAL's civil aspirations domestically. Whether an export niche can be found for the helicopter, squeezed between Russian, US and Western European rivals remains in doubt.

Source: Flight International