Civil Aviation Minister Kanjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu said that the government’s aim is to have one heliport in every district of the country, which will enhance regional connectivity across the country, especially in the Northeast. Naidu was speaking in Bengaluru after witnessing the inaugural flight of the Dhruv-NG, an indigenous next-generation light helicopter developed by defence PSU major HAL, largely aimed at capturing the civil aviation helicopter sector.
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“Many of the state governments are today ready to purchase this new helicopter, and I see immense opportunities in areas such as offshore operations, VIP movements, heli ambulances for disaster relief, high-altitude logistics support, tourism, besides many other areas. Many governments and organisations, such as the Border Security Force and Pawan Hans, have shown interest in this helicopter. India has around 300 helicopters, but demand is projected at 1,000–1,500 units, so we cannot rely solely on foreign suppliers. This indigenous aircraft is a key step toward achieving that goal,” said Naidu.
Naidu also laid emphasis on increasing the helicopter pilot training facilities in India in the long run. “I have talked about 1,000-plus helicopters in the next 10 to 15 years, but what becomes even more important is the pilot situation. Right now, we have only one helicopter pilot flight training institute in the country,” added Naidu.
The minister emphasised the strategic importance of domestic manufacturing. He said that lead times for international suppliers are long, and manufacturing helicopters in India ensures faster delivery and strengthens the country’s aerospace ecosystem. This approach benefits both civil aviation and defense sectors, aligning with the vision of the Centre to enhance the manufacturing ecosystem for aviation.
During an interaction post the Dhruv NG inaugural flight, HAL CMD D.K. Sunil said HAL is eyeing 80 per cent indigenisation of the Dhruv-NG helicopter in the next ten years. Currently, it is around 65 per cent.
He said eight helicopters will soon take off to Bombay High, ferrying personnel and materials offshore. Beyond that, HAL is also eyeing 25 per cent of its revenue from civil operations in the next ten years, powered by the Dhruv-NG, its certified engine, and a future 100-seater program.
On the exports front, HAL will initially aim at Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Africa, with Europe and the US coming later. India will, however, be the main focus of the helicopter.
For decades, India's civil helicopter market has been dominated by expensive foreign machines. From transporting business executives to evacuating critical patients from remote areas, the country depended on imported helicopters that come with hefty price tags and complicated maintenance requirements. Every spare part, every major service, every technical upgrade meant waiting for foreign technicians and components. But today’s flight signals a fundamental shift in this narrative.
The indigenous Shakti 1H1C engines powering the Dhruv-NG illustrate India's journey toward self-reliance in critical aerospace technology. In the early 2000s, HAL entered into a Transfer of Technology agreement with French engine manufacturer Turbomeca (now Safran Helicopter Engines) to produce the Shakti engine—essentially a variant of the Ardiden 1H engine adapted for Indian conditions.
Initially, India assembled these engines using imported components and kits, learning the intricate process of helicopter engine manufacturing. Over two decades, Indian engineers progressively increased indigenous content, mastered the technology, and began producing critical components domestically. Today, when a Shakti engine needs maintenance or replacement parts, everything happens right here in India. No waiting for foreign technicians, no dependency on international supply chains, no vulnerability during geopolitical tensions. This self-reliance translates directly into lower operational costs, faster turnaround times, and strategic autonomy—benefits that cascade down to every operator and ultimately to the common citizens who depend on these services.
“The technical specifications tell an impressive story. The Dhruv-NG can fly at speeds up to 285 kilometers per hour, with a range of 630 kilometers—roughly the distance from Delhi to Jaipur and back. Its service ceiling touches 6,000 meters, making it perfectly capable of operating in mountainous regions where roads simply don't exist. The useful load capacity of 2,333 kilograms, including the ability to carry underslung cargo up to 1,500 kilograms, means serious cargo-hauling capability for diverse missions,” explained defence and space analyst Girish Linganna.
But specifications alone don't capture what makes this helicopter special. The cockpit features an all-glass display, meeting international TSO qualification standards—think of it as upgrading from an old Ambassador car's dashboard to a modern Tesla's touchscreen interface. The advanced avionics include a 3D synthetic vision system that gives pilots a complete spatial view of their surroundings, even in total darkness or thick fog. For a country where weather conditions change dramatically within hours and visibility can drop to near-zero during monsoons, this technology isn't a luxury—it's a life-saving necessity.
“Safety features are woven into every aspect. Crashworthy seats protect passengers during hard landings, self-sealing fuel tanks prevent disasters, redundant systems ensure backups for critical functions, and the twin-engine configuration means if one engine faces trouble, the other keeps everyone safe. The advanced vibration control system ensures smooth rides even while flying at maximum speed, which is important when transporting critically ill patients or expensive equipment,” added Linganna.
HAL's "One-Stop Solution" approach addresses a major pain point in helicopter operations. Currently, operators juggle multiple vendors for manufacturing, maintenance, spare parts, and upgrades. With Dhruv-NG, everything happens under one roof domestically. The integrated logistics models like Power-By-Hour and Performance-Based Logistics mean helicopters spend maximum time flying rather than sitting idle in maintenance hangars. HAL reports reducing downtime by one-third, even with intensive usage—a crucial metric for commercial viability.