www.industry-india.com
24
'25
Written on Modified on
India Gains LiDAR Helicopter Technology
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and HENSOLDT sign landmark agreement for advanced helicopter Obstacle Avoidance System.
www.hensoldt.net
HENSOLDT, a leading German sensor solutions provider, and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), India’s premier aerospace and Defence manufacturer, have signed a major contract at the Dubai Airshow 2025 for the transfer of technology including design and manufacturing IPRs and integration of HENSOLDT’s state-of-the-art Obstacle Avoidance System (OAS) for Indian military helicopters.
This cooperation represents a significant milestone in Indo–German Defence industrial collaboration and positions India to join a very select group of nations possessing sovereign LiDAR-based helicopter obstacle avoidance technology.
Enhancing flight safety and mission effectiveness
The OAS solution combines HENSOLDT’s SferiSense LiDAR Sensor Head Unit and DVE Computer providing pilots with real-time situational awareness, superior navigation cues, and advanced synthetic vision—significantly reducing the risk of Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) and enabling missions in the harshest operational environments, including “brownout,” “whiteout,” and degraded visual conditions.
The system will first equip HAL’s Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), followed by integration on the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) and other Indian Armed Forces platforms.
“This partnership goes far beyond a conventional supply arrangement. It represents a strategic investment in India’s defence industrial ecosystem through genuine technology transfer, shared IP, and local manufacturing. By enabling HAL to produce, integrate, and eventually export this advanced OAS technology, we are directly supporting India’s Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision. Few nations possess indigenous LiDAR-based obstacle avoidance capability—this collaboration ensures India becomes one of them. Together with HAL, we are building not just a system, but long-term sovereign capability,” said Eugen Maier, Head of Sales, Airborne Solutions, HENSOLDT.
Under the agreement:
This cooperation represents a significant milestone in Indo–German Defence industrial collaboration and positions India to join a very select group of nations possessing sovereign LiDAR-based helicopter obstacle avoidance technology.
Enhancing flight safety and mission effectiveness
The OAS solution combines HENSOLDT’s SferiSense LiDAR Sensor Head Unit and DVE Computer providing pilots with real-time situational awareness, superior navigation cues, and advanced synthetic vision—significantly reducing the risk of Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) and enabling missions in the harshest operational environments, including “brownout,” “whiteout,” and degraded visual conditions.
The system will first equip HAL’s Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), followed by integration on the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) and other Indian Armed Forces platforms.
“This partnership goes far beyond a conventional supply arrangement. It represents a strategic investment in India’s defence industrial ecosystem through genuine technology transfer, shared IP, and local manufacturing. By enabling HAL to produce, integrate, and eventually export this advanced OAS technology, we are directly supporting India’s Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision. Few nations possess indigenous LiDAR-based obstacle avoidance capability—this collaboration ensures India becomes one of them. Together with HAL, we are building not just a system, but long-term sovereign capability,” said Eugen Maier, Head of Sales, Airborne Solutions, HENSOLDT.
Under the agreement:
- HENSOLDT will share design and manufacturing IPR with HAL enabling long-term indigenous sustainment.
- HAL will have manufacture, integrate, supply and provide after sales support for the OAS to Indian military helicopter customers
- HAL will have the rights to export the solution globally.
- The partnership ensures that India develops and owns a LiDAR-based helicopter obstacle avoidance system—an advanced capability only a few countries have mastered.
