HAL’s Indigenous Utility Helicopter-Maritime Prototype Set for Maiden Flight in November 2026

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited is preparing the first prototype of its indigenous Utility Helicopter-Maritime for its maiden flight, currently targeted for November 2026. The helicopter, designated UH-M by HAL, is being developed as a dedicated 5.7-tonne naval platform for operations from Indian Navy warships.

The UH-M programme is being pursued by HAL’s Rotary Wing Research and Design Centre in Bengaluru. It builds on technologies developed through HAL’s indigenous helicopter programmes while incorporating structural, avionics and shipborne features specifically required for maritime operations.

Dedicated 5.7-Tonne Naval Helicopter

HAL describes the Utility Helicopter-Maritime as a 5.7-tonne helicopter designed specifically for deck-based operations. Unlike a standard land-based utility helicopter adapted after development for naval use, the UH-M programme incorporates features required for operating and storing helicopters aboard ships.

One of its principal features is a folding main-rotor system. HAL has designed all four main rotor blades to be foldable, reducing the helicopter’s footprint and allowing it to be accommodated within the restricted hangar spaces available aboard Indian Navy vessels.

HAL had earlier developed and demonstrated blade-folding technology on the Advanced Light Helicopter as a company-funded project. During an official investor interaction, the company confirmed that the system had been demonstrated and flown and that the naval helicopter programme was subsequently designated Utility Helicopter Maritime.

Ministry of Defence Approved Procurement Requirement

The Ministry of Defence accorded Acceptance of Necessity for procurement of Utility Helicopter-Maritime aircraft on 3 April 2023. HAL subsequently continued development of the helicopter as an internally funded programme.

The UH-M is intended to provide the Navy with an indigenous helicopter in the light-to-medium naval utility category. Its development is proceeding alongside HAL’s other indigenous rotary-wing programmes, including the Light Utility Helicopter, Light Combat Helicopter and Indian Multi Role Helicopter.

HAL’s Rotary Wing Research and Design Centre, which supports the company’s helicopter manufacturing operations in Bengaluru, is responsible for indigenous helicopter design and development work.

Maritime AESA Radar Under Development

The UH-M is also receiving a dedicated maritime sensor suite. HAL documentation released during 2026 confirms work on an Active Electronically Scanned Array radar for the Utility Helicopter-Maritime.

HAL’s Strategic Electronics Research and Design Centre in Hyderabad has initiated work associated with firmware development and DO-certification of the AESA radar intended for the UH-M. The programme confirms that the helicopter is being developed with an integrated maritime surveillance capability rather than simply as a shipborne transport helicopter.

The AESA radar will form part of the helicopter’s maritime mission equipment, complementing the aircraft’s ship-compatible structural configuration and naval operating systems.

Prototype Moves Towards Flight Testing

Development work has now reached the prototype flight-test phase, with the first flight targeted for November 2026. The maiden flight will begin the process of validating the helicopter’s basic flying qualities, systems and configuration before the programme moves into progressively more demanding naval trials.

Flight development will eventually have to demonstrate characteristics specific to operations at sea, including the systems associated with shipborne deployment and the helicopter’s maritime mission configuration.

The November flight target represents the transition of the UH-M from design and prototype development into the airborne testing phase.

HAL Builds on Existing Naval Helicopter Experience

HAL already supplies several helicopter variants for maritime operations. The Indian Navy operates the naval Advanced Light Helicopter Dhruv, while the Indian Coast Guard operates maritime versions of the ALH Mk III.

HAL delivered another four ALH Mk III Maritime Role helicopters to the Indian Coast Guard in April 2026. These aircraft are equipped for maritime surveillance and other Coast Guard missions.

The UH-M, however, is being developed as a separate dedicated maritime helicopter programme with its own 5.7-tonne configuration and shipborne requirements.

Indigenous Systems Enter the UH-M Programme

HAL’s development network is simultaneously working on systems and accessories required for the new helicopter. The company’s Accessories Division in Lucknow lists the Utility Helicopter-Maritime among the indigenous platforms for which HAL has developed aeronautical systems and accessories.

The division has developed more than 400 types of indigenous accessories across platforms including the LCA Mk1A and Mk2, ALH, Light Combat Helicopter, Light Utility Helicopter, HTT-40 and UH-M.

With prototype construction advancing towards flight testing and development of its maritime AESA radar already under way, the UH-M programme is moving into its next phase. The planned November 2026 maiden flight will begin airborne evaluation of HAL’s latest indigenous naval helicopter.

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References

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited — Annual Report 2023-24, Utility Helicopter-Maritime (UH-M) programme.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited — Strategic Electronics Research & Design Centre, RFQ for Firmware Development and DO-Certification of AESA Radar for Utility Helicopter-Maritime (UH-M), 2026.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited — Official Investor Interaction Transcript, Utility Helicopter Maritime programme and blade-folding development.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited — Accessories Division, Lucknow: Indigenous Design and Development programmes.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited — Helicopter Division, Bengaluru: Rotary Wing Research & Design Centre and indigenous helicopter programmes.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited — ALH Mk III Maritime Role programme, April 2026.

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