HAL, HENSOLDT To Jointly Produce Obstacle Avoidance System For Indian Helicopters

HENSOLDT, a German defence company, is going to share all of its most important technologies with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), a state-run aerospace company, so that HAL can make the Obstacle Avoidance System (OAS) for Indian helicopters. Aviation experts say that the OAS is a key piece of equipment that helps pilots be more aware of their surroundings. This reduces the chance of accidents and makes it easier for pilots to complete their missions.

Officials said that HAL is considering making OAS for the Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH).

The ALH is a twin-engine, multi-role, multi-mission new generation helicopter with a weight class of 5.5 tonnes. It was designed and built in India.

The German company said that HENSOLDT and HAL made the announcement at Aero India 2023. The collaboration covers design and IPR (Intellectual Property Rights) for making the Obstacle Avoidance System for Indian helicopters and for possible future exports.

HAL and HENSOLDT also said they would work together to make airborne electro-optic gimbals with multiple sensors for Indian rotary and unmanned platforms.

Officials said that all of HENSOLDT’s important technologies for the OAS will be given to HAL.

Accidents in low-level flights have been a worry for both civilian and military helicopters, and the company said that pilots need help to act quickly by being more aware of their surroundings.

Helicopters are often in danger when there are things in their flight path or close to it. There could be power lines, aerial cableways, pylons, or towers in the way. During low-level flight manoeuvres, these kinds of dangers are more likely to happen.

HENSOLDT said that its system gives pilots smart visual cues that make their jobs easier and increase flight safety and the certainty of mission success, especially during key mission phases when visibility is bad.

It said that when a person’s eyesight alone isn’t enough, powerful software processes and combines data from sensors and databases and shows it in a visual format.

“This partnership between HAL Korwa and HENSOLDT is the first of its kind in the Indian defence industry,” said Apurba Roy, Executive Director of HAL. “The goal is to transfer critical key technology from Germany to India, giving a boost to ‘Atma Nirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India) in the Indian defence sector” (Korwa facility).

He said, “The finalisation of the transfer of technologies, including intellectual property rights (IPR), for the equipment is mainly proposed for Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) and is expected to be a major equipment fit in all future upgrade/new helicopter programmes with improved features by HAL Korwa.”

Andleeb Shadman, the managing director of HENSOLDT India, said that the company is hopeful and committed to helping India become self-sufficient in defence manufacturing.

“Our business plans are based on industrial collaborations that involve the transfer of technology, local production, and joint development. We think that working with HAL on OAS will be a first step in the right direction “he said.