HAL Dhruv

     Notes: Why did I put the Dhruv under attack helicopters when it looks like half of them are not armed?  Just seemed right at the time…

     The Indian Dhruv (Pole Star, or Polaris) is a light utility helicopter developed by HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited) with assistance from MBB of Germany.  It does, in fact, bear more than a passing resemblance to the MBB’s Bo-105 light utility helicopter, and even has the rear cargo doors like the Bo-105.  However, the Dhruv is built by HAL in India. Development began in 1984 under the ALH (Advanced Light Helicopter) program, but progress was slow, and the first prototype did not fly until 1992, and a combination of design delays, inadequate funding, and political concerns meant that Dhruv production did not begin until 2000. Production is also proceeding slowly; only 75 of the required 120 Dhruvs have been built as of 2019, and the Indian Military’s requirement is 120 examples for the Indian Navy, 60 for the Indian Air Force, and 75 for the Indian Army.  In addition, the Dhruv is used by Bolivia, Israel, the Maldives, Ecuador, Nepal.  Chile and Peru are also considering the Dhruv, as it is able to operate at relatively high altitudes for a rotorcraft.  In 2004, India indicated that they would buy Russian Mi-17s if Russia bought an equal amount of Dhruvs, but this deal fell through. The Dhruv’s RL price is considerably less than most helicopters in its class.

     The Dhruv’s planform is essentially conventional, looking like similar helicopters through out the world.  However, it lightweight due to two-thirds of its airframe’s construction being of composites. The cockpit part of the airframe are made primarily of carbon fiber with Kevlar armor/anti-spall liners for the entire cockpit except for the windows. The Dhruvs include crumple zones for the cockpit in case of a head-first of upside-down crash. Air Force Dhruvs generally fly clean and are primarily used as transports, while Army and Navy Dhruvs have winglets on either side for the carriage of weapons.  Indian Army Dhruvs also have a chin turret with a 20mm single-barreled autocannon.  The Dhruv has a flight control computer which optimizes the function of the engines, fuel flow, and keeps the pilot from maneuvering in such a way as to compromise flight stability. A typical loadout for Army Dhruvs consists of four ATGMs, two 19-round 68mm or 70mm rockets or Hydra-70 rockets, and four air-to-air versions of SHORAD missiles.  Naval variants typically carry four antiship missiles or two torpedoes.  The cabin is NBC sealed, but is also set up for oxygen masks for the pilot, copilot, and up to two doorgunners/crew chiefs,

     Army Dhruvs (called Rudras) are the heaviest, especially when loaded for bear in their Mk IV guise; they typically carry eight Nag ATGM (which are called the HeliNa ATGM in its air-launched guise), Russian, Indian, or other Western-built air-to-ground rockets, and four Stinger or Mistral AAMs.  A helicopter-launched ARM is said to be under development, but I have no hard data on this missile. The chin turret houses a French-designed M621 20mm autocannon, with the turret carrying the feed mechanism and the Rudra’s floor behind the turret having a container for the autocannon’s ammunition.  Rudras also have Kevlar armor/antispall liners for the cabin, fuel tanks, and engine compartment.  Mk IV Rudras have an IIS (imaging infrared system) and it is the primary method for guiding the Nag ATGMs from the Rudra, with MMR  for more accurate shorter shots; some variants of the Nag can also be laser-guided. Additional sensors include a 2^nd generation FLIR, a day/night CCD camera and 2^nd Generation laser designators and rangefinders. A fire control computer helps aim the weapons.

      While most many Rudras are so armed, Mk Is are fitted out as troop carriers (see below) and Mk IIs as aerial FO platforms.  The door guns are normally the equivalent of miniguns or M2HBs (I don’t know exactly what minigun is used, but for now, we’ll call it an M134.) The Aerial FO platforms mostly carry rocket pods, and carry four of them, but their rockets are usually WP marking rockets.  The outer pylons carry a pair of PKMT machineguns. They are also equipped with 3^rd generation laser rangefinders and laser designators.

     Some Army Rudras are fitted out as troop carriers; these carry door guns and to not have the winglets of the armed Dhruvs.  These can carry a considerable amount of troops for the Rudra’s size, these Rudras are primarily used to insert reconnaissance or special operations troops.  Troop seats may carry large weapons or pieces of equipment instead.

     Mk III Rudras are battlefield ELINT platforms, similar in purpose to the American EH-60Q Quick Fix. They have the winglets, but these carry extra flare and chaff dispensers and EW pods.  Their job is to find and jam enemy radar and AAA vehicles and mobile systems and command posts, and summon Mk IV Rudras or ground forces to destroy them.

     Naval Dhruvs do not have the enhanced Kevlar armor package, but do have Kevlar antispalling liners., They have a blister in their nose carrying a phased-array radar.  This radar has a shortish range and the Nag primarily depends upon an interface with a ship’s radar or IIR system.

     Almost all Air Force Dhruvs are kitted out as air ambulances.  In this role, the Dhruv may carry four stretchers or two stretchers and four seated patients.  They are essentially flying emergency rooms, and have most of the transportable elements one would expect from a brigade emergency aid station. The medical crew double as door gunners and usually consist of a PA and medic. The have access to a small computer containing medical treatment options if it is necessary to consult them. The computer has an LCD panel on an arm to that the medical crew can swing the output of the computer to where it is needed. An internal camera allows ground doctors to communicate with the medical personnel and keep track of what treatment is being administered. Nepalese Dhruvs are all air ambulances, and Turkey also bought 17 Dhruv air ambulances.

     A civilian/VIP version of the Dhruv is sold under the export name of Polaris.  It is also used as transport for cabinet ministers and high-ranking military personnel in the Indian military. Most of the Polaris versions are used by civilian concerns, however, and they have been sold to several countries around the world. This version has padded seats for the pilot and copilot, and a pair of luxury seats and a luxury bench seat in the rear, as well as cabin carpeting, overhead stowage for luggage, a small refrigerator (usually stocked somewhat like a minibar), and a stereo system with a radio and the ability to play DVDs and digital music and books from thumb drives or a hookup to a smartphone of laptop computer. While the standard Dhruv has skids, civilian Dhruvs land on wheels, which do not retract.

     Another civilian Dhruv is known as the Garuda Vasudha.  This is equipped with a heliborne geophysical survey system (HGSS), which includes short range radar (including weather radar), a GPS system, LiDAR, SAR, ground-penetrating radar, and a laser rangefinder, as well as the ability to drop sensors mounted on winglets; what they record depends on their role and what information the scientists need.  It has six additional seats for the scientists to sit, and the cabin includes a full set of monitoring systems that allow them to monitor their data.  A secondary version of HGSS is designed for fire reconnaissance and suspension; this version has a 2^nd Generation FLIR and IIR and a special fire tracking computer, and has a hook on the bottom of the helicopter designed to carry a water bucket, and the capacity of the bucket is up to 1500 kilograms (including the weight of the bucket).

     Most Dhruvs are powered with a pair of 1200-horsepower French-designed Turbomeca Ardiden 1H turbofans (Indian name for the engines is Shakti), and they are built in Bangalore by HAL. However, the Rudra is powered by an uprated version of the engine, with each having an output of 1432 horsepower.

     Other components for the Dhruv include IFF, RWR and IWR, chaff and flare dispensers, and an IRCM emitter. Mk 1 Dhruvs have conventional instrumentation, while Mk 2 Dhruvs have a glass cockpit; the Mk 2s were not available until 2007.