Current Affairs - Defence - Discussion

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) recently conducted the maiden flight of the Dhruv–New Generation (NG) helicopter in Bengaluru, marking its entry into the civil and export helicopter markets. The Dhruv NG is a 5.5-tonne, twin-engine, multi-role helicopter derived from the Dhruv ALH Mk-III civil platform, powered by indigenous Shakti engines. It is designed for day-night, all-weather operations, including offshore roles for ONGC. With DGCA certification for the Shakti civil engine and EASA restricted certification, Dhruv NG strengthens India’s indigenous helicopter capabilities, supports Aatmanirbhar Bharat, and provides a cost-effective alternative to imported twin-engine helicopters.