A Dhruv Mark III, painted in army camouflage colours, ready for delivery at HAL, Bangalore.
Brownie points for those who can fully list out the improvements in the Mk III over the earlier Dhruv
Colonel Ajai Shukla (Retired) is a columnist, commentator and journalist who covers regional security issues in South Asia and the Indo-Pacific, military technology and India’s defence economy. Read More
the air intakes for the engines are different.
ReplyDeleteThe easiest way to indentify the Mark iii version is to look for the blue plastic crate located under the belly.
ReplyDeletecujo
Air Intakes.
ReplyDelete4 blades on propeller
ReplyDeleteI'll go with the milk crate under the fuselage... on second thought, I'll go with the different FOD screen on the intake.
ReplyDeletefirst? (Oh and regarding the question, I'm curious but have no answer)
ReplyDeleteThis is not Dhruv. It is LOH.
ReplyDeleteMark 3 Dhruv has bifurcated air intake for its turboshaft engine. The separator is set horizontally in the air intake cowling.
ReplyDeleteIt might be what looks like chaff or flare dispensers just behind the numbers, and there's a weird green thing sitting on top of the rear stabilizer.
ReplyDeletethe doors are different, as is the FOD mesh over the engine.
ReplyDeletesmaller tail fins
ReplyDeleteMore powerful Shakti engine developed by Turbomeca.
ReplyDeleteWire cutters on the fuselage
ReplyDeleteFlare dispensers right next to the serial number of the craft and I am suspecting MAWS too but cannot point to individual components on the body to say if they are!
ReplyDeleteTail Rotor assembly seems to have been maniaturized although I might be seeing toom much into it
I am also guessing an new glass cockpit
by its sliding doors...
ReplyDeleteJust a humble suggestion to HAL on the Shakti equpped Dhruv IIIs meant for the Siachen Glacier.
ReplyDelete1. Most of the people operating / servicing this machine will be wearing thick gloves, I hope that handles and grips are made to accomodate thick gloves.
2. Can HAL make the seats heated please?
3. There seem to be too many outcropping handles, grips, etc. Are these jugaad by HAL or do all internationally recognized helicopter manufacturers specially the western ones also have such things on their helicopter designs?
That apart, there is little doubt that the Dhruv III is the high altitude champion of the world.
ReplyDeleteGreat going by HAL.
1) New Shakti turboshaft engines developed by HAL & Turbmeca
ReplyDelete2) Chaff/flare dispensers
3) Advanced laser warning systems
4) Electronic Warfare Suite
5) Electro-Optic pods
6) Integrated Dynamic System (being audited by Avio)
7) Active Vibration Control System (by Lord Corp, USA)