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New Recruit
I thought that was a beautiful picture, a true success of the much maligned DRDO
Any idea how many choppers have crashed???
HC– 1/2
ADVANCED LIGHT HELICOPTER – MARK-II
ABSTRACT:
The Advanced Light Helicopter – DHRUV has been designed and developed by HAL. It is a multi role and multi mission helicopter in the 4.5 to 5.5 tons category. All critical systems like Hydraulic, Engine, AFCS, instrumentation etc. are duplex to make the DHRUV a safe helicopter to fly.
Currently the DHRUV has a conventional cockpit and caters to utility roles. The Military Skid version was certified in March 2002 and Military Wheel version was certified in February 2003. The Civil Variant with retractable wheel was certified in October 2003, with skids was certified in July 2004 and with fixed wheel in April 2005.
Based on feed back from field operations and new requirements the DHRUV is being upgraded. The planned up gradation will make the ALH more user friendly and versatile.
The conventional cockpit will be replaced by a system called an Integrated Architecture and Display System (IADS). The Avionics will be integrated through a common controller. This along with the Display System will result in de-cluttering of the cockpit and reduced pilot workload.
A higher-powered engine called “Shakti” will replace the currently fitted TM3332B engines from Turbomeca. This is being co-developed by HAL & Turbomeca. This Engine will provide better payload capability at high altitudes and also meet the weapon delivery requirements above 3km.
Helicopters are prone to vibration. Currently the ALH is fitted with floor mounted FRAHM dampers and the ARIS. An Active Vibration Control System (AVCS) will replace these. This will result in lower vibratory loads and a reduction in weight & cost.
An Optimized Transmission System is under testing, which eliminates the Auxiliary Gear Box and provides increased central oil sump in the Main Gear Box. This will result in better lubrication and reduced number of components.
The current Tail Rotor Blades are being redesigned using pre-preg Technology. This will provide consistency in quality and simplicity in manufacture.
To provide Online Health Monitoring of the structure and systems, a Health & usage Monitoring System (HUMS) is being developed. This would provide, critical information to compute residual life and advance warning with respect to failure and exceedance of loads.
These up-gradations provide enhanced effectiveness for DHRUV. All this experience would enable HAL to successfully complete the WSI variant of ALH and the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH).
CURRICULUM VITAE :
IDENTIFICATION:
Name:
Dr. K. BALAKRISHNA
Designation:
GENERAL MANAGER
ROTARY WING RESEARCH & DESIGN CENTRE
HAL, Bangalore
EDUCATION:
B.E Mechanical Graduate from Govt. College of Engineering, Jawaharlal Nehru
Technology University(JNTU)-Kakinada-Andhra Pradesh.
M.S. and Ph.D in Engineering Mechanics from Penn State University, United States
of America.
Conducted Research in the field of Fatigue, response of Fiber reinforced
composite and metal matrix composites respectively during MS and Ph.D
programmes.
Has been associated from the beginning in the Design and Development of ALH.
Responsible for Air Frame Design and associated system with special emphasis
onCrashworthiness design.
Co-ordinated developmental flight testing of ALH leading to Certification.
Advisor to Aviation Research Centre, Delhi in getting FAA Supplementary Type
Certification of a modified Jet Aircraft.
Associated as Technical Adviser to ADE in the Crashworthiness Design aspects of
PT-A
Involved in Life Extension Programmes of Mi-8 / Mi-17 helicopters and Kamov
Project upgrades and improvements
Served as Chief of Design in RWR&DC till December 2003 and Currently working as
a General Manager – RWR&DC since 1st Jan. 2004.
how is it compared to the Cobras?
A nice photo of Dhruv WSI from jetphotos.
On the bottom centre you can see the THL 20mm gun turret housing the M621 low-recoil cannon, the white Pod in the nose centre houses the FLIR (forward-looking infrared), CCD camera & a target acquisition system with thermal sight and laser rangefinder.