First unit of indigeneously-built chopper ALH inducted into Navy

Indian Naval Air Squadron (INAS) 323, the primary unit of the indigenously constructed ALH (Advanced Light Helicopter) Mk III plane, was commissioned into the Indian Navy by Union Minister of State for Defence Shripad Naik on Monday at INS Hansa in Goa.
The squadron will function three state-of-the-art ALH Mk III helicopters — a multi-role chopper with the Shakti engine manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The Mk III model of the ALH has an all glass cockpit and will likely be used for search and rescue, particular operations and coastal surveillance. Six ALHs are below procurement and all of the plane are being delivered in a phased method, the Navy mentioned in an announcement.
Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Western Naval Command, Vice Admiral R Hari Kumar, was additionally current on the ceremony. HAL Chairman and managing director R Madhavan mentioned that 19 new programs primarily based on the necessities of the Navy and the coast guard have been added to the ALH MK III plane.
The plane, a step up from Mk 1, will be capable to mitigate low visibility throughout search and rescue operations even at evening, naval officers mentioned on Monday.

Flag Officer Commanding Goa Area, Rear Admiral Philipose G Pynumootil, mentioned, “The radar will give us surveillance capability. The medical ICU was not there before. We used to evacuate patients from ships, for instance, and now there is an ICU capability within the aircraft. A 0.7 mm gun which will again give a huge capability from a LIMO (low intensity maritime operations) standpoint, there’s a megaphone, there are various things. The automatic flight control system is hugely superior to the previous one. There are various factors that will enhance all aspects of operations.”
“I am glad to know that the navy has maintained a high level of operational readiness during this crisis (Covid-19 pandemic) and remains combat-ready,” Naik mentioned on the commissioning ceremony.

“While the international tendency during the Covid-19 pandemic was to look inwards, India and Indian Navy have looked outwards. The Navy was a key instrument in India’s Covid outreach delivering assistance and support to our maritime neighbours and partners in the Indian Ocean Region,” mentioned Naik.
With the rising variety of Covid-19 infections in Mumbai, the headquarters of the Westen Naval Command (WNC) and in Goa, Vice Admiral Kumar mentioned: “We are taking great care to ensure that the people who man the operational units like our ships, submarines and aircraft are safe. We have hardly any cases in these units and that is achieved by ensuring minimal contact, isolating the crew.” He mentioned that many members of the crew are being quarantined once they return from depart and are allowed to renew solely after they relaxation adverse.