Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has rejected media reports flagging defects in the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) fleet, describing them as “one-sided” and “misleading.” The defence public sector giant said the issues raised pertain to a routine maintenance check, not a systemic flaw.
“This is with reference to articles published in a newspaper on 6th September 2025. The articles, unfortunately, present a one-sided view with misleading commentary. One-Time Check (OTC) is a routine maintenance practice issued subsequent to a defect, in this case, of the Tail Drive Shaft (TDS). HAL is working closely with the Indian Army and has deputed expert teams to ascertain the root cause,” the company stated on Sunday.
The clarification came after reports claimed a defect had been noticed in the tail drive shaft of the ALH fleet, prompting the Army to order an inspection. HAL emphasised that such checks were part of established airworthiness norms. “HAL reiterates that maintenance aspects are critical to the continued airworthiness of helicopters and emphasises that all maintenance directives must be followed scrupulously,” the statement said.
The ALH Dhruv, HAL’s flagship indigenised platform, has been in service for over two decades. It is deployed extensively by the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and civil operators. The company pointed out that the fleet has logged more than 4.5 lakh flying hours, operating in extreme conditions ranging from Himalayan altitudes to coastal environments.
The helicopter has also been central to recent disaster-relief efforts. “In the ongoing flood rescue and Cas-Evac operations, the Indian Army also undertook high-risk helicopter rescue operations using ALHs to evacuate stranded civilians and CRPF personnel, which stands as testimony to their trust placed in the platform,” HAL underlined.
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Urging restraint in reporting, the aerospace major said, “HAL believes that it is important to draw conclusions based on comprehensive information and accurate data. HAL respectfully emphasises the importance of accurate reporting by the media regarding its flagship indigenised platforms and not drawing erroneous conclusions based on selective [information].”
The ALH Dhruv, developed by HAL in the 1990s and inducted in the early 2000s, was the first major indigenously designed and produced utility helicopter. It was built to reduce dependence on imports and has since become the backbone of India’s rotary-wing operations. While the platform has faced occasional grounding orders in the past following accidents, HAL has consistently maintained that the fleet is robust and that corrective actions are promptly implemented.
HAL itself is a key pillar of India’s defence industrial complex, with a history dating back to 1940. Headquartered in Bengaluru, the public sector undertaking designs, develops and manufactures aircraft, helicopters, engines and avionics for the Indian Armed Forces. The ALH programme, alongside the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft, remains one of its flagship achievements.
The HAL has argued that occasional directives for inspection should not be mistaken for structural deficiencies. For now, the ALH Dhruv continues to fly across India’s skies, performing military, civil and humanitarian roles.
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