Developed to fulfil India's ALH (Advanced Light Helicopter) requirement, the Dhruv is a multi-role helicopter in broadly the same class as the Kamov Ka-32 or the Eurocopter EC 155. Though designed for both military and civilian roles, the Dhruv has been optimised for military use and the bulk of its production is expected to be taken by the Indian armed forces, primarily to replace the large number of ageing HAL-built Cheetah and Chetak helicopters still in service. The Dhruv was developed with German (MBB/Eurocopter) design assistance and bears a family resemblance to the smaller MBB BK 117 (Eurocopter EC 145). Although the Dhruv is India's first indigenous helicopter design, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd has been involved in the manufacture of rotorcraft since June 1962, when the Indian Government signed a licence agreement with Sud Aviation (later Aerospatiale and now Eurocopter France) to build the Alouette III under licence as the HAL Chetak. The first firm orders for the Chetak were placed in January 1965, and local production began at Bangalore, where a separate Helicopter Division was established in 1969-70.
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