The US Customs plans to buy ten indigenous Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) "Dhruv" built by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd., HAL sources said in
Bangalore today.
The multi-million dollar order for the civil variant of Dhruv would be finalised with the US Customs in a few months, jointly by Israel Aircraft
Industries Ltd. (IAI) and HAL, sources in the Bangalore-based HAL said.
This is the first major order for HAL from the US following the joint marketing agreement with IAI earlier this year in which HAL will supply the
helicopter and IAI will integrate the centralised avionics package in ALH for the international market.
"A US team will visit Bangalore later this year for further talks," sources said.
The civil variant of the multi-role Dhruv powered by French Turbomeca TM 333-2M2 engine was recently certified by the Director General of Civil
Aviation (DGCA), and HAL plans to get the aircraft certified by the US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA).
Declining to comment on the cost of the deal, sources said, "we are close to finalising the price. We bet, we should be at least 30 per cent cheaper
than any of our competitors in this class".
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israel is also poised to buy indian helis.
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