Current Affairs

HAL-built ALH MK-III helicopter (CG 875) inducted into 831 Squadron at Coast Guard Air Station Ratnagiri

16-10-2026 · English

HAL-built ALH MK-III helicopter (CG 875) inducted into 831 Squadron at Coast Guard Air Station Ratnagiri

Topics: Environment, Defence & Governance · 16 October 2026 Current Affairs (UPSC / TNPSC / SSC / RRB)

News

On 13 Oct 2026 the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) inducted the indigenous Advanced Light Helicopter ALH MK-III (CG 875), built by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), into 831 Squadron at Coast Guard Air Station Ratnagiri, Maharashtra. The station's Commanding Officer received it with a water cannon salute. It is the first of five ALH MK-IIIs allotted to 831 Squadron. It has advanced radar, an Electro-Optical Pod, an Automatic Identification System (AIS) and a 12.7 mm heavy machine gun. It will boost surveillance and search-and-rescue over Region (West), including the Maharashtra coast.

Key facts

Date / place13 Oct 2026 – Coast Guard Air Station Ratnagiri (Maharashtra)
HelicopterALH MK-III (maritime) – CG 875; built by HAL, Bengaluru
Squadron831 Squadron (CG) – first of 5 allotted
EquipmentRadar, EO Pod, AIS, 12.7 mm heavy machine gun
ContractMar 2024 – ₹8,073 crore with HAL: 34 ALH (ICG 9, Army 25); Mar 2026 – 6 more for ICG (₹2,901 crore)
Earlier delivery10 Apr 2026 – 4 ALH MK-III (MR) – to Kochi and Porbandar squadrons

Background

  • Indian Coast Guard: set up as an interim body on 1 Feb 1977; made a formal armed force by the Coast Guard Act, 1978. Under the Ministry of Defence; HQ New Delhi; motto 'Vayam Rakshamah' (We Protect).
  • ALH 'Dhruv': a twin-engine multi-role helicopter designed and built by HAL. MK-III has a glass cockpit and night capability; roles – maritime surveillance, search and rescue, casualty evacuation, coastal security and anti-piracy.
  • ICG regions: West (Mumbai), East (Chennai), North-East (Kolkata), North-West (Gandhinagar), Andaman & Nicobar (Port Blair). Ratnagiri is in Region (West), on the Konkan coast.

Tamil Nadu link: the Coast Guard Region (East) HQ is in Chennai. 840 Squadron (ALH MK-III) was commissioned at Coast Guard Air Station Chennai on 30 Nov 2022 – for surveillance of the Tamil Nadu and Andhra coasts.

Source: All India Radio News (newsonair), 13 Oct 2026; Swarajya, 14 Oct 2026; Life of Soldiers, 10 Apr 2026; Defense Mirror, 1 Dec 2022

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