India’s state-owned company Hindustan Aeronautics Limited has awarded California-based Aitech a $63-million contract to provide avionics computing systems for the country’s ongoing Light Combat Helicopter initiative.
India’s state-owned company Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has awarded California-based Aitech a $63-million contract to provide avionics computing systems for the country’s ongoing Light Combat Helicopter initiative.
The $7.3-billion aircraft program centers on a homegrown attack helicopter based on the HAL Dhruv, designed to deliver strike, reconnaissance, and close air support in high-altitude environments.
For the agreement, Aitech will support 156 helicopters with long-term production and sustainment of the computer units, displays, and related automatic control systems over the next five to six years.
The suite will support mission management, flight guidance, and situational awareness in contested domains upon shipment.
Proven Support
Aitech said its selection for the effort builds on its avionics expertise, sustainment support, and prior integration work, noting that replacing the components would require a full rebuild and reauthorization that could take years.
The firm has worked with HAL since 2011, when New Delhi began developing a new avionics architecture for its helicopter fleet, customizing a ruggedized computing and graphics system for rotary-wing mission processing and display functions.
Aitech said its engineers also supported HAL during software integration, flight testing, and certification activities for the helicopter program.
“HAL selected Aitech because we provided innovative solutions from the beginning of the project and remained involved every step of the way to present day,” said Gil Botton, vice president and head of business development for Aitech SEA and EMEA.
“We played a key role in HAL’s first success by bringing technical knowledge, computing expertise and manufacturing discipline to support the avionics systems for decades.”
