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New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) India and Germany have revived high-technology defense cooperation after nearly three decades, with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) signing a landmark contract with German state-backed sensor major Hensoldt at the Dubai Airshow 2025.
The agreement, finalized on the third day of the event, focuses on the joint development of state-of-the-art LiDAR-based Obstacle Avoidance System (OAS) for Indian military helicopters – a breakthrough that has already generated significant buzz in global aerospace circles.
The deal for this LiDAR-based Obstacle Avoidance System (OAS), signed by Indian DPSU Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and German government-backed HENSOLDT, marks a significant return to high-technology cooperation after earlier partnerships in aerospace and maritime programmes.
Why is the OAS deal important?
Obstacle avoidance systems protect helicopters from dangerous hazards such as power lines, cables, pylons and towers that are often too thin or too poorly lit for pilots to see in time during low level flight, night operations or poor visual environment (DVE).
The system continuously scans the airspace ahead of the aircraft and gives the crew enough warning to maneuver safely, making it essential for modern military fleets that often operate in missions where dust, fog, terrain or hostile activity force helicopters into risky profiles.
The LiDAR-based OAS uses HENSOLDT’s SferiSense LiDAR sensor with a powerful onboard Degraded Visual Environment (DVE) computer that transforms raw data into a clear visual display, helping pilots “see” terrain and obstacles even when visibility is poor.
Official technical information indicates that LiDAR provides a detection probability of at least 99.5 percent within the first second and can detect obstacles (including thin wires) at a distance of more than 1,000 meters, even when helicopters are flying parallel to them.
The combined suite is designed to reduce the risk of controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) and support safe flight during brownouts, whiteouts and other DVE conditions.
The OAS is being jointly pioneered by Indian state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and German sensor-technology company HENSOLDT, in which the federal government holds a 25.1 percent stake.
The partnership follows a co-development model where both parties will together adjust and improve technical specifications to ensure effective performance of the system in India’s diverse mission settings.
Technology transfer to HAL is planned to support future production in India under the Make in India framework. It is also interesting to note that only a handful of countries have indigenous LiDAR-based obstacle avoidance capability. This collaboration ensures that India becomes one of them.
As was reported during the Dubai Airshow announcement, initial integration is planned for Indian indigenously designed helicopters like LCH and ALH. Army Aviation Corps personnel who routinely operate at high altitude and low visibility conditions are expected to be among the early users.
It is believed that this program can also strengthen India’s helicopter export competitiveness. Countries such as Argentina, Mauritius, Nepal and the Philippines have shown interest in the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) variants for multi-role and coastal missions, while Nigeria has expressed interest in the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) for counter-terrorism operations.
–IANS
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