Three Advanced Light Helicopters (ALHs) manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) were inducted into the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) by Defence Secretary Dr. Ajay Kumar on Monday.
These choppers will assist in search and rescue operations, and further upgrade coastal security. The Central government-run HAL will supply 16 of these helicopters to the ICG by mid-2022, according to the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
In June, the coast guard had inducted the first three helicopters. Now, a total of 6 ALH MK-III has been received by the ICG. “On induction, all the 16 ALH MK-III will be positioned at four ICG squadrons at Bhubaneshwar, Porbandar, Kochi, and Chennai,” the MoD had earlier stated in a statement.
The helicopters are equipped with state-of-the-art equipment like Surveillance Radar, Electro-Optic Pod, Medical Intensive Care Unit, High-intensity Search Light, SAR Homer, Loud Hailer, Machine Gun, and can perform other key roles.
