HAL, HENSOLDT Seal Agreement for Domestic Manufacturing of DVE and Obstacle Avoidance Systems for Helicopter PlatformsAt the Dubai Air Show 2025, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Germany’s HENSOLDT Sensors GmbH signed a historic contract for the transfer of design, intellectual property rights (IPR), and manufacturing and repair capabilities of a cutting-edge LiDAR-based Obstacle Avoidance System (OAS) and Degraded Visual Environment (DVE) suite for helicopter platforms.
The goal of this technology collaboration is to give Indian military helicopters 3D symbology and synthetic vision so they can identify important impediments like wires, masts, pylons, and terrain even in low visibility.By significantly lowering the danger of Controlled flying Into Terrain (CFIT) accidents—a major cause of helicopter mishaps globally—the LiDAR sensor, HENSOLDT’s SferiSense, provides high angular precision and real-time obstacle recognition, enabling safer low-level flying operations.
An important step forward for India’s aerospace sector, the deal enables HAL to develop, manufacture, integrate, test, and maintain these advanced avionics systems domestically.
Significantly, HAL will also be in possession of the export rights to this next-generation OAS and DVE technology, putting India in a unique position as one of the few nations capable of producing and exporting such cutting-edge helicopter safety solutions.
By facilitating thorough technology transfer and guaranteeing that India controls the design and intellectual property rights for this crucial helicopter safety technology, our partnership goes beyond a typical procurement agreement.
The Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) and other Indian helicopter platforms that are now in service will be covered by the system integration, which will improve operational safety in visual situations that are deteriorated due to unfavorable weather, topography, or impediments that are otherwise challenging for pilots to notice.
Leaders from HAL and HENSOLDT stress that this collaboration will boost domestic defense capabilities and expand India’s presence in cutting-edge aerospace technology with possible international export prospects.
The agreement establishes a new standard for improving helicopter safety using LiDAR-based synthetic vision systems and highlights the expanding defense-industrial collaboration between Germany and India. The
