Indian Coast Guard Inducts 3 ALH Mk-III Helicopters

The Coast Guard inducted into the fleet primary 3 of 16 Advanced Light Helicopters ALH Mk-III locally designed and made by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). “The ALH Mk-III marine version has been designed and developed with in-house up-gradation of 19 additional equipment by HAL to satisfy Coast Guard needs,” a Coast Guard statement stated. “The HAL will provide 16 ALH Mk-III to the coast guards by next year,” it said. The 16 ALH Mk-IIIs will be deployed to four Coast Guard squadrons: Bhubaneshwar, Chennai, Kochi, and Porbandar. HAL said these helicopters are equipped with state-of-the-art equipment like Surveillance Radar, Electro-Optic Pod, medical care Unit, High-Intensity SearchLight, SAR Homer, Loud Hailer, Machine Gun and may perform other vital roles.

According to the company, the Helicopter MRO Division and the Engine Division, and other HAL Sister Divisions are the nodal agency for the PBL contract’s execution. According to HAL, the PBL will provide a one-stop solution for maintenance of complete helicopter, engine, and components, which encompasses Helicopter/Engine Servicing Task, Rotatable Repair Task (RRT), and Repair and Maintenance Spares Order (RMSO). As a part of PBL, the Helicopter MRO Division of HAL will be extending the support from four bases, Bhubaneswar, Porbandar, Chennai, and Kochi. All necessary infrastructure and repair facilities are found at Bhubaneswar and Porbandar, dedicated LRU/ Rotatable floats are stocked, and an on-site support team has been identified towards ensuring the supply of helicopters, while Chennai and Kochi are within the final stages, HAL said.

Additionally, HAL Aviation Maintenance Software (HAMS), an online setup, has been manufactured and used by Helicopter MRO Division for surveillance and operational visibility of the fleet through a fanatical leased line network, it added. The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) an admiralty law enforcement and search and rescue agency of India with jurisdiction over its body of water, including its contiguous zone and exclusive economic zone. The Indian Coast Guard was officially introduced on 1 February 1977 by the Coast Guard Act, 1978. It serves under the Indian Ministry of Defense. In a significant push to the state’s armed forces, the Ministry of Defense has inked a Rs 323.47 crore contract to acquire 11 Airport Surveillance Radars with Monopulse Secondary Surveillance Radar for the Indian Navy and Coast Guard. The agreement was signed with Mahindra Telephonics Integrated Systems Limited under the ‘Buy & Make’ field.

Under this category, an initial procurement of kit in Fully Formed (FF) state is completed from a far-off enterprise. During a phased manner, indigenous production is completed by an Indian Production Agency (PA), which involves the Transfer of Technology (ToT) of critical technologies like specified range, depth, and scope, to the assembly agency. The installation of those radars will enhance the air domain awareness around airfields and increase safety and efficiency in flying operations of the Indian Coast Guard and the Indian Navy. The signing of this contract represents a government accomplishment toward the ‘AtmaNirbhar Bharat Abhiyan’ and the program’s goals. This can enable absorption of technology, skill development, and indigenous manufacture, boosting employment opportunities, the Defense Ministry said in a statement.