The state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has rolled out 300th Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH-Dhruv) from its Bengaluru hanger on Tuesday.

Speaking on the occasion, HAL CMD, R Madhavan said ALH never looked back from the day when the prototype took its maiden flight on August 30, 1992 and has “evolved into a world class helicopter with its unparalleled performance”. “The evolution from ALH Mark-I to Mark-IV has been phenomenal and is a boost to the indigenous design and development of helicopters,” Madhavan added.

300th ALH (Dhruv) Rolls-out from HAL Hangar @drajaykumar_ias @DefProdnIndia @DefExpoIndia @SpokespersonMoD @TOIIndiaNews @PTI_News @gopalsutar pic.twitter.com/NlPQLV9Z8v

— HAL (@HALHQBLR) September 29, 2020

At a programme held at HAL’s Helicopter Division Mr. Y K Sharma, Additional Director General (South Zone), Directorate General of Aeronautical Quality Assurance (DGAQA) handed over Roll-out certificate of the helicopter to G V S Bhaskar, Chief Executive Officer, Helicopter Complex.

G V S Bhaskar said ‘Rolling-out of 300th ALH is a testimony to the capabilities HAL has built over the years with concerted efforts of employees and customer support. “With more ALH getting inducted into the services our focus on customer support is ever increasing. With over 2,80,000 flying hours ALH has proven to be a multirole helicopter for Any Mission, Any Place, Any Time,” said G V S Bhaskar.

Currently, HAL is producing 73 ALHs contracted for Army (41), Indian Navy (16) and Indian Coast Guard (16). Out of this, 38 ALHs have already been produced and the remaining will be completed by 2022, it said.