Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) and Safran Electronics & Defense announced the signature at the Aero India show of three new contracts for Safran-designed autopilots for various helicopters manufactured by HAL.

Safran Electronics & Defense will provide HAL with state-of-the-art development and integration capabilities to replace existing test and integration benches and set up a software workshop to develop and validate control laws necessary for the use of autopilots.

HAL has also selected Safran Electronics & Defense to supply the autopilot for its Light Utility Helicopter (LUH). The development of the control laws for this new 3t-class machine will be performed jointly by Safran and HAL.

Safran has also been selected by HAL to develop the specific control laws for the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) costal security version for the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard. The autopilot is similar to the one that equips existing versions of ALH and LCH. The manufacturing and maintenance of this system is currently performed by HAL Hyderabad following a transfer of technology.

Safran Electronics & Defense is India's leading supplier in the fields of autopilots and inertial navigation. With the signing of these three new contracts with HAL, Safran is pursuing its strategy of becoming a leading technology partner for the Indian aviation industry.