NEW DELHI: India’s indigenously-designed-and-manufactured Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) Mk-III were today inducted in the India Coast Guard (ICG), which will get 16 of such choppers by the middle of next year.
The helicopters, designed and manufactured by state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), are capable of undertaking embarked operations from ships, a Defence Ministry release said.
It will enhance Coast Guard capabilities towards sea-air co-ordinated search, interdiction capabilities, coastal security, search and rescue operations, medical evacuation, humanitarian missions, pollution response missions, etc, it said.
On induction, the 16 ALH Mk-III will be positioned at four Coast Guard squadrons at Bhubaneshwar, Porbandar, Kochi and Chennai, the ministry said.
“The shared maritime boundaries with littoral states are highly susceptible to illegal activities and the regions are prone to frequent cyclones. These squadrons with embarked operations will ensure seamless surveillance and provide assistance to fishermen in distress at sea,” it added.
Coast Guard Director General K Natarajan said the induction of ALH Mk-III will usher a new paradigm shift in the force’s capability to undertake ship-borne operations and enhance surveillance prowess with extended reach.
He said these helicopters will be deployed in a coordinated matrix along with ships and aircraft to strengthen the service capabilities in Area of Responsibility and beyond.
