Overview
- HAL and Germany’s HENSOLDT signed a co-development agreement for a helicopter Obstacle Avoidance System that Indian officials call one of the most significant bilateral tech transfers in nearly three decades.
- The contract includes design and manufacturing IP transfer, local production rights and long-term sustainment, with HAL to manufacture, integrate, supply and support the system in India.
- HAL receives export rights for the co-developed kit, positioning India to field a sovereign safety suite and pursue international sales on HAL helicopter platforms.
- The system pairs HENSOLDT’s SferiSense LiDAR with a Degraded Visual Environment computer to provide real-time synthetic vision and obstacle detection that reduces CFIT risk in low-visibility conditions.
- Initial integration will occur on indigenous HAL helicopters before adaptation across Army, Air Force and Navy fleets, with production expected to be anchored at HAL’s Korwa division following India–Germany defence talks in New Delhi.