Aero India 2023

The 14th edition of India’s biennial air show Aero India, themed “the runway to a billion opportunities,” focused sharply on indigenous aerospace and defense technologies. The five-day event, held Feb. 13 to 17 at Air Force Station Yelahanka, Bengaluru, and was attended by over 800 exhibitors, including 110 foreign exhibitors.

While flying displays by various fighters, formation aerobatic teams and the maiden appearance of two fifth-generation fighter Lockheed Martin F-35As enthralled the crowds, the rotary side of this edition unmistakably belonged to state-owned defense major Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

The full range of the company’s helicopter products — light twin Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH, all marks), 3-ton, single-engine Light Utility Helicopter (LUH), and the newly-inducted 5.8-ton Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) “Prachand” — occupied vantage at the show. The Indo-French Ardiden 1H1 Shakti engine powers the ALH (Mk 3, Mk 4) and LCH, while a derated variant of the Ardiden 1U powers the LUH.

A scale model of the Indian Multi Role Helicopter (IMRH) was also on display at HAL’s indoor pavilion. During the show, HAL revealed that it had signed a workshare agreement with Safran Helicopter Engines for the joint development of an engine intended for the 13-ton IMH and its naval version DBMRH (deck-based multi role helicopter). The entire family of HAL helicopters, totalling close to 1,000 aircraft over five variants, will thus be equipped with turboshaft engines customized to meet exacting “hot and high” requirements.