Military operations crippled as ALHs continue to remain grounded

The grounding of around 330 ‘Dhruv’ advanced light helicopters (ALHs) following a fatal crash has severely impacted military operations for the Indian armed forces, which already face high crash rates and low serviceability of older helicopters. This has disrupted critical missions including reconnaissance and supply flights along borders with China and Pakistan, with the Army particularly affected due to its fleet of over 180 ALHs. The situation is compounded by delays in procuring new helicopters, while the Army has resorted to hiring civil choppers to maintain logistics in remote areas.