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Advanced light helicopter (ALH) dedicated to the nation |
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The much-awaited indigenously designed and developed Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) was finally inducted into the Indian Air Force on March 30.
Talking to the media on the occasion of handing over the aircraft to the IAF, Defence Minister George Fernandes announced that India was likely to set up a facility in the country to make spare-parts for Russian defence equipment that were no longer available in that country.
Fernandes said he had discussed this with a high-ranking defence delegation that toured Delhi three months ago. The visiting minister had agreed in principle as India told the visiting delegation the problems in getting Russian defence spares and their high cost.
“I also mentioned that south-east Asian countries were facing similar problems and suggested setting up a facility in India that would cater to the needs of spare parts and maintenance,” he said. Most probably HAL would run the facility, he said, adding that the location had not yet been decided.
ALH to enter global market
Commending the team work of his organisation, HAL Chairman N.R. Mohanty revealed that the company has prepared a high level strategy to market the state-of-the-art ALH in the global market. Speaking to newspersons after formally handing over the aircraft to the Indian Army at the helicopter division in Bangalore, he said he had already contacted various Indian embassies abroad and had supplied them with the literature on the versatile helicopter.
HAL would offer six million dollars as the base price to the foreign customers.
Replying to queries, he said it was high time India carved a niche for its aircraft in the international market. “If we do not capture the global market for the ALH now, we will miss the bus,” he remarked.
He said he had recently met numerous leading personalities connected with the aviation industry from all over the world in Singapore. He also discussed with some of those who had been supplying equipment to HAL the technological advancement made in the ALH and suggested to them that they could integrate their equipment in the ALH and sell globally. The response had been positive and overwhelming.
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