Coast Guard commissions first Advanced Light Helicopter squadron

It covers entire coast of West Bengal and Odisha under surveillance efforts DRDO flight tests  Anti-Tank Guided Missile HELINA from ALH

The Coast Guard on Monday said it had formally commissioned its first Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) MK–III squadron, 830 Squadron, at Bhubaneshwar. 

In a separate development, the indigenous  Anti–Tank Guided Missile ‘HELINA’ — developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)— was successfully flight–tested at high–altitude ranges as part of user validation trials. 

“The flight trials were conducted from an ALH and the missile was fired successfully engaging a simulated tank target. The missile is guided by an Imaging Infra–Red (IIR) Seeker operating in the Lock on Before Launch mode,” the DRDO said. “It is one of the most advanced anti–tank weapons in the world.”

In continuation to validation trials conducted at Pokhran in Rajasthan, proof of efficacy at high altitudes paves the way for its integration on the ALH, the DRDO said.

Indigenous helicopter

“Out of 16 ALH MK–III helicopters, 12 have been inducted in the Coast Guard in a phased manner and four of these are positioned at Bhubaneswar, covering the entire coast of West Bengal and Odisha under their surveillance efforts,” the Coast Guard said. The ALH is designed and manufactured by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)

The commissioning of this squadron earmarks a tremendous leap towards self–reliance in the field of Search And Rescue (SAR) and long range maritime surveillance, in line with the government’s push towards “Aatmanirbhar Bharat”, it said.