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747-237 · Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2013 11:07 am Post subject: Indian Army gets first ALH Rudra

http://www.laserfocusworld.com/news/2013/02/11/indian-army-gets-light-armed-chopper-rudra.html

Indian Army gets light armed chopper Rudra

02/11/2013

State-run defence behemoth Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) Friday handed over its weaponised light attack helicopter 'Rudra' to the Indian Army at an air show here.

Deputy Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Narendra Singh received the indigenous weapon system integrated Rudra (ALH WSI Mark-IV) from HAL chairman R.K. Tyagi at the static display of Aero India 2013, the ninth edition of the biennial aerospace, defence and civil aviation trade expo at the Indian Air Force (IAF) base at Yelahanka on the city's outskirts.

"True to its name, Rudra is a modern helicopter with latest weaponry. The combat platform will help our troops to march ahead towards victory in the future battles fought, if any," Lt.Gen. Singh said on the occasion.

In Indian mythology, Rudra is one of the names of Hindu god Shiva as a destroyer of enemies.

The army will be inducting about 80 Rudras in its various units after the finial operational clearance and serial production.

As the armed variant of the company's Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), Rudra is fitted with weapons, targetting systems, warning and counter measure systems and survivability features.

"Rudra is a weaponised platform catering to attack roles with self-defence capability. It is fitted with three sighting systems, viz., electro-optic pod, helmet mounted sight, and fixed sight," Tyagi said.

A 20mm turret gun is also fitted in the nose of the chopper with a combination of 70mm rockets, air-to-air and anti-tank guided missiles.

The warning and counter measures include radar laser missile warning systems and flare chaff dispensers.

The Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (Cemilac) granted the initial operational clearance to Rudra Feb 3 here.

The chopper is powered by the company's Shakti engine, developed jointly with Safran Turbomeca of France.