Meet HAL Dhruv ALH Mk-IV: India-made advanced attack helicopter for IAF - IN PICS

The HAL-made Dhruv ALH (Advanced Light Helicopter) is an indigenously built chopper used for multiple operations by the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy.  

The Mk-IV version of the HAL ALG Dhruv helicopter is the Armed variant for Attack, Close Air Support and High altitude operations.

Deliveries of the production series Dhruv helicopters commenced in 2002 and a total of 228 Helicopters have been produced by March 2017 including 216 for the Indian Armed Forces.

The Mk-III and Mk-IV versions of the ALH are powered by the Shakti Engine which has 12 % higher power than TM 333 2B2 engine used in Mk-1 and Mk-II series along with dual centrifugal compressor assembly, single crystal blades and dual channel FADEC.

The IAF, in a tweet, mentioned that the indigenous ALH Mk-IV has a rigid rotor design making it aggressively manoeuvrable & a precise platform in air. Fitted with modern avionics & equipped with lethal armament, it has a dedicated Electronic Warfare suite for self protection.

The armed variant of the Dhruv is also called ALH Rudra and the Mk-IV series can carry a 20 mm Turret Gun, 70 mm Rocket and Air to Air Missile.

More than 200 Dhruvs are operating with Indian Defence Forces. Further, HAL bagged orders for 73 ALH in 2017 from Army, Coast Guard and Navy for ALH Mk-III & Mk-IV variants.  

India's world-famous IAF acrobatic team Sarang also flies the ALH (Dhruv) and was formed in October 2003 with the aim of showcasing the excellent agility, controllability & maneurability of ALH. The word Sarang means peacock in Sanskrit.