HAL Dhruv NG completes first civil flight

Dhruv New Generation (NG) helicopter on the occasion of its Inaugural flight | Photo: HAL

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) conducted the inaugural flight of its Dhruv New Generation (NG) helicopter in Bengaluru on December 30, 2025, marking the company’s entry into the civil helicopter market. The flight took place at HAL’s Helicopter Division in the presence of government, regulatory, and industry officials.

The inaugural flight was flagged off by Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, Minister of Civil Aviation. Also present were D K Sunil, Chairman and Managing Director of HAL, Maneesh Kumar, Joint Director General of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and Sanjeev Razdan, Chairman and Managing Director of Pawan Hans Ltd.

During the event, HAL received certification from the DGCA for the indigenous manufacture of the Shakti civil engine. According to HAL, this is the first aero engine certified by the DGCA for indigenous production. The company said the certification involved coordination with Safran Engines. HAL stated that the Dhruv NG is expected to achieve full civil certification within three to four months.

“This flight marks an important milestone in Indian aviation. I can see the Sankalp of a Viksit Bharat taking wings. HAL has successfully conducted the inaugural flight within a year of showcasing the demo. Dhruv NG has emerged as a platform for several operators. The ‘Make in India’ is now a seal of global quality,” Ram Mohan Naidu said.

Dr D K Sunil said, “Dhruv ‘New Gen’ helicopter is the cornerstone of HAL’s civil expansion. The Dhruv Mk 1 Civil platform has already clocked over 24,000 hours and has been specifically upgraded to meet the rigorous demands of the global civil aviation market… We are working closely with the DGCA to ensure globally aligned certification standards.”

HAL described the Dhruv NG as a 5.5-tonne, twin-engine civil helicopter designed for multiple roles.