Hindustan Aeronautics Limited has received an order from the Indian Government for an additional 32 Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopters for the Indian Navy and Coast Guard. A Ministry of Defence spokesman told local media on March 28: “In a meeting of the cabinet committee on security, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the proposal to acquire these helicopters [which are] meant for coastal and maritime security, was given clearance.” The contract, signed on March 29, calls for the additional helicopters to be delivered between 2020 and 2022, split equally between the Navy and Coast Guard.
A five-year performance-based logistics support contract for the Coast Guard helicopters is included in the deal. The Dhruv first entered service in 2002; prior to the announcement, Indian sources predicted production would cease in 2018.
