HAL hands over ALH Mk III (MR) helicopters to Indian Coast Guard

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) handed over four Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Mk III in Maritime Role (MR) configuration to the Indian Coast Guard at ...

What Happened

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) handed over four Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Mk III in Maritime Role (MR) configuration to the Indian Coast Guard at a ceremony in Bengaluru on April 10, 2026.
The delivery meets the contractual timeline under the deal for nine ALH Mk III (MR) helicopters signed in 2024.
In March 2026, the Ministry of Defence signed a fresh contract worth ₹2,901 crore with HAL for six additional ALH Mk III (MR) helicopters, and a separate ₹5,083 crore package also included VL-Shtil surface-to-air missiles.
The ALH Mk III (MR) is equipped for maritime surveillance, search and rescue (SAR), casualty evacuation, coastal security, anti-piracy, and law enforcement.
The helicopters feature an Electronic Warfare (EW) suite, surveillance radar, glass cockpit, night-operation capability, and a Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) for rescue missions.
They can operate from both shore-based airfields and ship flight decks (ship-borne operations).

Static Topic Bridges

HAL Dhruv — India's Indigenous Helicopter Programme

The Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv is India's flagship indigenous rotary-wing aircraft, developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in Bengaluru. The programme was initiated in 1979 and the design consultancy contract was signed with Germany's Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB) in 1984. The first prototype made its maiden flight on August 20, 1992.

Class: 5.5-tonne multirole, multi-mission helicopter
Maximum speed: 290 km/h; Maximum weight: 5,500 kg
Variants: ALH Mk I (basic utility), ALH Mk II (improved), ALH Mk III (advanced avionics, glass cockpit), ALH Mk IV / Rudra (weaponised attack variant)
As of early 2024, more than 400 Dhruvs produced, accumulating over 340,000 flight hours
Export customers include Ecuador, Nepal, Mauritius, Maldives, and Suriname
Composite airframe (carbon fibre and Kevlar cockpit), crashworthy seats, Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC)

Connection to this news: The ALH Mk III (MR) is a specialised maritime variant of the Dhruv, adapted for Coast Guard operations with surveillance radar, EW suite, and ship-deck landing capability — representing the maturation of India's indigenous helicopter programme into operationally complex mission roles.

Indian Coast Guard — Role, Mandate, and Legal Basis

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) was established under the Coast Guard Act, 1978, as a maritime law enforcement and search-and-rescue agency. It operates under the Ministry of Defence (unlike many countries where coast guards are under Interior/Home ministries).

Mandate: Maritime law enforcement within India's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ — 200 nautical miles), search and rescue, pollution control, anti-smuggling, anti-piracy, disaster response.
India's EEZ: approximately 2.37 million sq km — one of the largest in the world.
ICG operates under the Maritime Zones of India Act, 1976 and the Coast Guard Act, 1978.
Operates approximately 160 surface platforms (ships and boats) and 70+ aircraft.
Jurisdiction: India's territorial waters (12 nm), Contiguous Zone (24 nm), and EEZ (200 nm).
The ICG also enforces MARPOL (Marine Pollution) provisions and coordinates with the Indian Navy during national emergencies.

Connection to this news: The ALH Mk III (MR) significantly enhances ICG's aerial surveillance and SAR capability across its vast EEZ — particularly in the island territories of Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep where shore-based responses are logistically constrained.

Defence Indigenisation — Atmanirbhar Bharat in Defence

India's defence indigenisation policy, accelerated under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative (2020), aims to reduce import dependence and develop a robust domestic defence industrial base. The Ministry of Defence has issued three Positive Indigenisation Lists (PIL) — goods that can only be procured from domestic sources.

India spends approximately ₹6 lakh crore annually on defence; historically 60-70% of equipment was imported.
The Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020 introduced priority categories: Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured (IDDM) gets highest priority.
HAL is India's largest defence PSU (Public Sector Undertaking) — also produces Tejas (LCA), Hindustan Turbo Trainer (HTT-40), and Su-30MKI under licence.
Defence exports target: ₹50,000 crore by 2028-29 (India crossed ₹21,000 crore in FY24).
ALH Dhruv is listed in the Positive Indigenisation List — the Coast Guard and armed forces must procure rotary-wing aircraft in this category from HAL.

Connection to this news: The ALH Mk III (MR) delivery is a direct output of the Atmanirbhar Bharat defence push — an indigenous helicopter meeting the operational requirements of a key security agency, replacing the need for expensive imported maritime helicopters.

India's Maritime Security Architecture

India's maritime security framework integrates the Navy, Coast Guard, Coastal Police, and customs into a layered coastal surveillance system, especially since the 2008 Mumbai attacks (26/11) which exposed gaps in coastal security.

Post-26/11 reforms: National Committee for Strengthening Maritime and Coastal Security (NCSMCS) established under Cabinet Secretary.
Coastal Surveillance Network (CSN): chain of radar stations, Automatic Identification System (AIS) receivers, and camera networks along India's 7,516 km coastline.
IMAC (Information Management and Analysis Centre) at Gurugram: central hub for maritime domain awareness, integrating data from Navy, Coast Guard, and civilian shipping.
The 2022 National Maritime Security Coordinator (NMSC) post was created to unify maritime security governance.

Connection to this news: ALH Mk III (MR) helicopters strengthen the aerial dimension of India's layered maritime security architecture — providing rapid response and surveillance capability that complements the CSN's surface/radar layer.

Key Facts & Data

ALH Dhruv first flight: August 20, 1992 (Bengaluru)
Coast Guard Act: 1978
India's EEZ: approximately 2.37 million sq km
India's coastline: 7,516 km
March 2026 ALH Mk III (MR) contract: ₹2,901 crore for 6 helicopters (HAL)
April 2026 delivery: 4 ALH Mk III (MR) helicopters to ICG
HAL total Dhruv production (as of early 2024): 400+ units, 340,000+ flying hours
26/11 Mumbai attacks: November 2008 — trigger for coastal security reforms