Parrikar Defends Dhruv Helo After Ecuador Crash.

Indian defence minister Manohar Parrikar on 30 January defended the operational competence of the indigenously developed Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), three days after Ecuador placed its ALH fleet on restricted operations following another accident.

Parrikar Defends Dhruv Helo After Ecuador Crash.

The Ecuador Air Force (EAF) acquired seven ALHs built by state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in Bangalore in 2008-09 for USD45 million, in what was India's first ever export of a locally designed military platform.

But one of the 5.5 tonne, twin-engine platforms crashed soon after while making a low pass at a military parade in Quito. A second accident occurred in February 2014, in which three of four crew members died.

Meanwhile, on 13 and 27 January, two more ALHs suffered accidents, with one catching fire in the Amazon rainforest after taking off from the Tena military base, local media reported.

"Three [remaining] aircraft have had their operations restricted because they are undergoing a complete check," Ecuador security minister Cesar Navas told the El Universo newspaper on 27 January.

Speaking on the sidelines of a military function in New Delhi, Parrikar defended the aircraft. "Dhruv is a good platform," he told reporters. "If there is any issue about its maintenance, I have asked HAL to create a depot wherever it is required, so that spares are available."

Parrikar admitted that HAL faced problems of providing ALH spares, but asserted that these would be resolved in 3-6 months. He said HAL, which has been series building the ALH since 2000, had recently allocated INR4 billion (USD66.66 million) to build up its inventory of ALH spares to supply overseas customers like the EAF.

In August 2013 India's Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) censured HAL for underpricing the ALH by INR520 million in order to secure the EAF tender.

HAL had quoted INR2.04 billion for the seven ALHs, an offer that was 32% cheaper than the second-lowest bid by Israel's Elbit, the CAG declared. It also revealed that HAL was penalised INR60 million by the EAF for late delivery of two helicopters, further adding to its losses on the deal.