Together, the helicopter’s first flight and the DGCA certification of an indigenous civil engine mark one of the clearest attempts yet to reduce India’s dependence on imported helicopters and build a sustainable domestic civil rotorcraft industry.

At its core, the DHRUV-NG represents HAL’s effort to adapt a proven military airframe to the realities of the civil aviation market, where certification discipline, reliability and operating economics matter as much as raw performance.

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Running in parallel with the helicopter’s first flight was another development with long-term significance for India’s civil aviation industry.

During the event, HAL received certification from the DGCA for the indigenous manufacture of the Shakti civil helicopter engine. This marks the first time India’s aviation regulator has certified an aero engine for domestic civil production.