July 6,
2008: Ecuador is buying seven Indian
Dhruv helicopters, for about $7.2 million each. The Dhruv is being sold mainly
on price. The Indian Navy refused to buy Dhruvs, after evaluating six of
them. The main complaints were lack of
engine power, and poor reliability. These were considered fatal flaws for
helicopters meant for SAR (search and rescue) and ASW (anti-submarine warfare.)
But other, less demanding users, have been content.
The 5.5
ton Dhruv was in development for two decades before the first one was delivered
six years ago. Since then, nearly 80 have been delivered, mostly to the Indian
Army. But some foreign customers (Nepal and Myanmar) have also taken a few. A
series of crashes indicates some basic design flaws, which the manufacturer
insists does not exist. The Dhruv contains Israeli electronics and French
engines.
