‘Dhruvs Best In Their Class, No Question Of Returning Them’ – Ecuador’s Defence Minister

While providing testimony to an Assembly Committee on International Affairs analysing the Dhruv helicopter crash of October 27, Ecuador’s Defence Minister Javier Ponce yesterday called the Dhruv the best choice for the country’s air force, and ruled out returning the remaining helicopters to India as a consequence of the accident.

There is no reason to return the machines. There was a very clear decision that this was the best choice and the best offer. The helicopters will be back to full operational status after Accident Investigation Board delivers its report on November 26,” he said.

14 thoughts on “‘Dhruvs Best In Their Class, No Question Of Returning Them’ – Ecuador’s Defence Minister”

  1. Hi everyone,
    I am Anon 9:44 from the other post on the Dhruv, who was counselling caution and not going overboard with a media campaign.

    I feel vindicated just as HAL and Dhruv are!

    Great going HAL! Dhruv ki Jai Ho!

    Sometimes it is better to remain calm and quiet and let the truth come out – it eventually does.

    The whole issue there was of a dork media who understands politics and corruption but doesn't understand the technical fine points of aircraft and accidents. There was dirty politics going on in Ecuador wrt the president and if one cares to translate all that's been written in the ecuadorean press and the viewers' opinion on the relevent you tube pages, one can see that the main issue there is people either happy with the government or against it.
    The accident involving the Dhruv was caught up in the crossfire.

    It is not over yet, but the choppers are in the air again, and a positive news involving the Dhruv, with wide media coverage will allow the Ecuadoreans to see first hand the capabilities of the chopper.

    Please remember the helicopter despite the horrible crash did save the lives of its two pilots.

    Great going HAL! Keep it up!

  2. let them deliver their report on Nov. 26. Its plain to see that the Dhruv was not responsible for the crash, but it was the pilots who made an error at an altitude from which recovery was nearly impossible..I've seen the Sarang display team perform aerobatics at a safe height and the Dhruv can easily bank as much as it did during the crash- the important point though, is that it is done at a safe height.

  3. The gall some people have to defend Indian defense PSUs. Selectively read some filth spewed out by some BR jingo and voila, you are a Chankian now. HAL/DRDO are not doing some social service here. All the lazy bums out there are being paid by you and me. Read the latest Broadsword article, you will see what the IAF vice chief thinks of HAL.

  4. The Dassault Rafale program cost >2 billion euros…the Tejas has cost only 1.2 billion dollars till now…
    so where is the incompetence ..in estimation of cost up front…or the development!!!

  5. ^^^

    From when did Tejas equal Rafale??

    Before comparing absolute prices, just think of the cost of a coffee in Paris and Delhi…

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