Aero India 2025: Concerns Over Sarang Helicopter Participation

Spectators have to miss the Sarang Aerobatic Show at Aero India 2025. The participation of the Sarang team in Aero India is doubtful. The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) manufactured Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) fleet of 330 helicopters remains grounded. This follows a crash of an Indian Coast Guard Dhruv on January 5, 2025. It has been almost a months since the critical asset for India’s defence and paramilitary operations remains grounded. The ALH has faced a series of crashes in recent years. These incidents have sparked concerns about its operational reliability. The most recent crash claimed three lives. The Army, Navy, Air Force, and other paramilitary services have paused ALH operations. The recent crashes have prompted extensive safety reviews and HAL is implementing corrective measures.

Recent Incidents and Fatalities

The most recent crash occurred on January 5, 2025. An Indian Coast Guard ALH Dhruv Mk III crashed during a training sortie at Porbandar Airport, Gujarat. Tragically, three crew members lost their lives after the helicopter caught fire during takeoff. This marked the second crash involving the Coast Guard fleet within two years.

Earlier incidents include:

October 2, 2024: An Indian Air Force ALH made a forced landing in a swamp in Bihar. This occurred during flood relief operations due to engine failure. All four crew members were safely rescued.
September 2, 2024: A Coast Guard ALH Dhruv Mk III crashed into the Arabian Sea during a medical evacuation mission. This resulted in two fatalities. One crew member is still missing.
4, 2023: An Indian Army ALH Rudra crashed in Jammu and Kashmir, killing two pilots and a technician.
March 11, 2023: A Navy ALH Dhruv Mk III made an emergency landing off the Mumbai coast. This happened due to a sudden power loss. Fortunately, all three crew members were rescued.

All services including the Indian Navy had grounded their ALH operations in 2023 and raised concerns with the HAL. According to sources, HAL reviewed the fleet to pinpoint the technical issues. After the inquiries, many of the crashes have been linked to technical malfunctions. These issues are particularly with engine failures and the durability of aluminum booster control rods in earlier models. These components have been prone to wear and tear, leading to operational failures in critical situations. HAL had initiated significant safety upgrades. This included replacing Aluminum Control Rods with Steel during the fleet grounding in 2023. This upgrade was expected to enhance durability and reduce failure rates. Once again, the ICG Dhruv crashed on January 5. HAL will conduct a systematic review of all ALH helicopters. They aim to find and rectify potential vulnerabilities. Sources privy to the situation informed India Today. They said the rectification can occur only after the inquiry reveals the cause of the recent crash.
According to the sources, the investigation is ongoing. Nothing can be confirmed about the timelines of resumption until the actual reason is identified. HAL has not responded to the queries on the whole issue so far.

The Indian Coast Guard operates 16 ALH helicopters. They have contracts for 9 extra units and approval for 6 more. A Board of Inquiry into the latest crash has been ordered. The operations across services are getting affected due to the absence of the ALH fleet .
The Air Force had to make amendments in the air shows. This includes the Republic Day parade and many other shows. The ALH remains grounded. Doubts over the Sarang Helicopter team’s participation in Aero India create another setback. Spectators wait for the team’s mesmerizing performance.

Also read: A Fortnight without ALH Fleet: Defence Secretary Calls it a Setback, Armed Forces Face Operational Challenges