SOURCE: AFI
On April 23, 2025, a video clip surfaced on X, posted by user @sdhrthmp, showing an Indian Army Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv in flight, prompting speculation and questions about its operational status. The post noted that the entire ALH fleet, numbering around 330 across the Indian Army, Air Force, Navy, and Coast Guard, has been grounded for three to four months following a fatal crash in January 2025, with no clear timeline for their return to service.
The sighting of an ALH in action, as captured in the clip, raises intriguing questions: Has the fleet been partially cleared for operations, or is this an isolated case tied to urgent missions like the recent Pahalgam terror attack?
Initial investigations pointed to a fracture in the swashplate, a critical component in the helicopter’s transmission system that translates pilot inputs into rotor blade motion. A fleet-wide inspection revealed cracks in the swashplates of some Navy and Coast Guard ALHs, particularly those operating in saline maritime environments, raising concerns about material fatigue or environmental stress. As a result, the entire fleet—comprising over 180 Army ALHs (including 60 Rudra armed variants), 75 Air Force, 24 Navy, and 19 Coast Guard helicopters—remains grounded, with no operations permitted except in specific cases.
The grounding, now extending beyond three months, has disrupted military operations, forcing reliance on aging Cheetah and Chetak helicopters and private aviation firms for logistics in remote areas like Kargil, Gurez, and Uttarakhand. HAL has partnered with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru to conduct fatigue testing on the swashplate’s aluminum alloy, with findings expected by late April 2025 and a final report from the Defect Investigation Committee (DIC) by May. Fleet-wide inspections and repairs could take an additional month, potentially keeping the ALHs grounded until June or July 2025.
The sighting of an ALH in the video clip coincides with reports that a few Dhruv helicopters were cleared for operations in Jammu and Kashmir following the deadly Pahalgam terror attack on April 23, 2025, which killed 26 people, mostly tourists. The attack, attributed to Pakistan-based terror groups, prompted a high-level security review led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who directed the armed forces to enhance counter-terrorism operations.
According to The Week, the Indian Army permitted a small number of ALHs to operate around Srinagar and adjoining areas to support ongoing counter-terrorism efforts. This limited deployment suggests that specific helicopters, likely those cleared after rigorous safety checks, were pressed into service for urgent missions. The ALH’s high-altitude capabilities and versatility make it invaluable in Jammu and Kashmir’s rugged terrain, where it can transport troops, conduct reconnaissance, and support rapid response operations.
What appears to capture one of these ALHs, possibly involved in post-Pahalgam operations. The user’s surprise—“How are they flying now?? Are we missing something?”—reflects widespread public and expert curiosity about the fleet’s status, given the lack of official updates since early April.
The decision to deploy a limited number of ALHs likely stems from operational necessity. The Pahalgam attack, described as a “dastardly” act, required an immediate and robust response, including aerial support for troop movements and surveillance. The grounding of the ALH fleet has strained India’s rotary-wing capabilities, with older helicopters like the Mi-17, Cheetah, and Chetak overworked and unable to fully compensate.
HAL and the armed forces may have prioritized a small batch of ALHs for urgent missions after conducting targeted inspections, possibly focusing on helicopters with newer swashplates or those unaffected by the saline environment issues. The Army’s experience with the ALH in high-altitude operations, such as during the 2013 North India floods, where it outperformed heavier Mi-17s and lighter Bell 407s, likely influenced the decision.
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