India’s Ministry of Defence signed two contracts on March 3, 2026 worth a total of ₹5,083 crore ($555 million) for the acquisition of six HAL ALH Mk-III MR helicopters for the Indian Coast Guard and VL-Shtil SAMs for the Indian Navy.
ALH Dhruv
The contract for six Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) Mk-III (Maritime Role) along with operational role equipment, an engineering support package, and performance-based logistics support, valued at ₹2,901 crore ($315 million), was inked with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The MoD clearance to procure these twin-engine helicopters, commonly called Dhruv, for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) was granted in December 2024.
A fatal crash in September 2024 had led to the ICG grounding its ALH fleet. However, another fatal crash of an ICG ALH in January 2025 led to the grounding of the entire fleet across all services. By mid-2026, Army and Air Force variants were flying, with the issue found to be related to operational conditions faced by Navy and ICG helicopters. It was reportedly recommended to enhance the manufacturing process of the Non-Rotating Swashplate Bearing used in Navy and ICG Dhruvs to improve its fatigue life.
The current order comes soon after a Navy ALH was revealed to have flown operationally for the first time since the January 2025 crash. An ALH Mk-III MR was deployed for an anti-hijack drill by the Andaman and Nicobar Command on February 26, 2026. The ICG had last ordered Dhruvs in March 2024, when nine helicopters were ordered alongside an order for 25 by the Army. The current order signifies overall user confidence in the platform and also rekindles potential export prospects, with the helicopter being on offer to the Philippines Coast Guard under an Indian line of credit.
ALH MK III in August 2023. Photo by ICG.
