HAL Dhruv

The HAL Dhruv is a utility helicopter developed and manufactured by India's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The development of the Dhruv was first announced in November 1984, and it was subsequently designed with assistance from MBB in Germany. The helicopter first flew in 1992; however, its development was prolonged due to multiple factors including the Indian Army's requirement for design changes, budget restrictions, and sanctions placed on India following the 1998 Pokhran-II nuclear tests.

The Dhruv entered service in 2002. It is designed to meet the requirement of both military and civil operators, with military variants of the helicopter being developed for the Indian Armed Forces, while a variant for civilian/commercial use has also been developed. The helicopter was first exported to Nepal and Israel.

Military versions in production include transport, utility, reconnaissance and medical evacuation variants. Based on the Dhruv platform, the HAL Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) a dedicated attack helicopter and HAL Light Utility Helicopter (LUH), a utility and observation helicopter, are currently being developed. As of August 2013, more than 200 HAL Dhruv have been produced for different customers.

Users

 * Ecuador
 * Ecuadorian Air Force
 * India
 * Indian Air Force
 * Indian Army
 * Indian Border Security Force
 * Indian Coast Guard
 * Indian Navy
 * Israel
 * Ministry of Defense
 * Maldives
 * Maldives National Defence Force
 * Mauritius
 * Mauritius Police Force
 * Nepal
 * Nepalese Army Air Service