In March 2017, the Indian Coast Guard signed a contract with HAL for the supply of 16 ALH Mk-III, however, Coast Guard has so far inducted 15 helicopters

Photo Credit : Indian Coast Guard,

The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) delivered the last of 16 Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Mk-III to the Indian Coast Guard in Bengaluru on Tuesday.

HAL designed, developed and manufactured the ALH Mk-III. It has a surveillance radar, an electro-optic pod, a medical intensive care unit, a high-intensity searchlight, an infrared suppressor, a heavy machine gun and a glass cockpit.

So far, the company has produced over 330 ALHs, a versatile helicopter with over 3.74 lakh flying hours.

In March 2017, the Indian Coast Guard signed a contract with HAL for the supply of 16 ALH Mk-III. The Coast Guard has so far inducted 15 helicopters.

On Tuesday, the Coast Guard signed a letter of intent for nine more ALH Mk-III choppers.

“We are pleased to issue a Letter of Intent (LoI) for nine additional helicopters because we are proud to be associated with HAL. Despite Covid-19, HAL delivered all of the helicopters in the shortest time possible, allowing us to strengthen India's maritime security,” VS Pathania, DG Coast Guard said.

HAL chairman CB Ananthakrishnan said that a unique feature of the contract has been the performance-based logistics, a one-stop solution for HAL's maintenance of these helicopters.

“This will serve as a benchmark for all future contracts and strengthen our resolve to collaborate with private partners to accelerate work in the interests of all our customers and strengthen ‘Make in India’ activities in the defence ecosystem,” he added.