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Journalism of Courage
NEW DELHI, March 24: A Naval prototype of the indigenously developed Advanced Light Helicopter ALH accomplished 11 hours of defect free test flying from warships during trials exclusively scheduled to establish its performance in a marine environment.
The development puts the country into a select band of maritime nations capable of operating indigenously made twin engine multi-purpose combat helicopters from small decks of warships.
Cdr Krishnan Kumar, Navy test pilot and Wg Cdr retd CD Upadhyay deputy chief test pilot landed the ALH-PTN protoytpe navy on the aircraft carrier INS Viraat last week. The more exacting task of landing the helicopter atop a moving frigate was executed by Lt Cdr AK Gulati and Upadhyay.
The ALH-PTN is fitted with a state-of-the-art avionics package which includes a dunking sonar, a sonic system with sonobuoys, electronic support measures, radar and would be inducted into the Navy by end 1999.
