Saab Avitronics will this year start serial production of its Integrated Defensive Aids Suite (IDAS) for fitment to the indigenous Indian Advanced Light Helicopter now in production at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
HAL has reportedly already delivered 80 Dhruv (Sanskrit: “Pole Star“) multi-rolehelicopters to the Indian Armed Forces and a further 235 are on order.
A Saab media release says it received two production orders worth approximately SEK 196 million (US$24 million) for the IDAS in December. Production will take place in Centurion, Pretoria.
IDAS will be installed on the “weapon systems” (armed) version of Dhruv and will “provide these platforms with electronic warfare (EW) self-protection.” The helicopter features a modern glass cockpit that features a fully integrated IDAS system.
“We are proud of being a supplier for this advanced helicopter and look forward to continuing our cooperation and long term relationship with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited,” says Saab Avitronics managing director Micael Johansson.
He says the production orders follow initial orders for development and prototype deliveries as well as the first series production order received in April.
Saab says IDAS is the world`s most comprehensive integrated EW suite for airborne platforms and has been the choice for the Denel AH1A Rooivalk and M1 Oryx, NH Industries NH90, Agusta Westland Super Lynx 300 and A109, Boeing CH47 Chinook, Eurocopter Cougar and Super Puma.
Designed from the outset as a fully integrated modular system, IDAS combines radar, laser, UV missile approach warning and countermeasures dispensing functions in a single system controller. Its modular system architecture allows IDAS to be configured for any one or any combination of the three sensor types.
Saab Avitronics employs some 1300 employees at Järfälla, Kista and Jönköping in Sweden and at Centurion and Cape Town in SA. Saab Avitronics is legally-speaking part of Grintek Defence (Pty) Ltd in SA and Saab AB in Sweden.
The company has a 60-year track record of developing and integrating avionics for both military and commercial aircraft and a 50-year tradition of developing and integrating electronic warfare systems for all branches of the armed forces.
