Selex Communications' laser obstacle avoidance and monitoring (LOAM) system has been cleared for integration with Italian military and government aircraft, following the company's receipt of certification from the Italian defence ministry's General Directorate of Air Armaments (GDAA).
Designed to detect obstacles as small as 5mm (0.2in)-thick cables from a range of between 50m (164ft) and 2km (1.1nm), the eye-safe laser radar system underwent a 10-month certification campaign involving rigorous environmental and performance trials, says air force Col Giorgio Orsini, head of the GDAA's general technical co-ordination office.
Previously integrated with AgustaWestland's EH101 for Denmark, the LOAM system will initially equip the Italian navy's EH101 amphibious support helicopters, but has also been selected for the Italian army's NH Industries NH90 tactical transports. The design is also being considered for use with the Italian air force's future combat search and rescue helicopters.
Selex says the design has attracted interest from helicopter manufacturers and potential customers in Europe, Russia, the Far East and South America.
The obstacle warning system has already been trialled with the Agusta/Bell AB212, AgustaWestland Lynx and Eurocopter EC130, and flown aboard a Bell UH-1H testbed by Lockheed Martin under a marketing agreement to promote the system in North America.
Selex is also promoting the design for use by fixed-wing aircraft during low-level missions such as supporting special forces personnel and firefighting.
EADS Defence Electronics earlier this month performed the first flight of a laser radar-based obstacle warning system being developed for military helicopters including the NH90. The MilOWS design is derived from the company's existing Hellas system.
Source: Flight International