HAL delivers 16th ALH to Coast Guard

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) handed over the last of the 16 maritime-role advanced light helicopters (ALH Mk-III) contracted with the Indian Coast Guard (CG), the defence PSU said on Tuesday.

HAL and CG had signed the contract for the ALHs in 2017.

Coast Guard DG V S Pathania said CG has issued a Letter of Intent for nine more helicopters. The timely delivery of the ALHs, despite the pandemic-induced constraints, allows the CG to strengthen the country’s maritime security, an official statement quoted Pathania as saying.

HAL CMD C B Ananthakrishnan said the Performance Based Logistics feature – the “one-stop solution for maintenance of these helicopters” – would serve as a benchmark for all of HAL’s future contracts.