SAMTEL-Hensoldt MoU Aero India 2025: BENGALURU – In a significant boost to India’s indigenous defense manufacturing capabilities, SAMTEL Avionics (SA) and HENSOLDT Avionics have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to co-produce cutting-edge avionics products within India. The agreement, finalized on February 12th, paves the way for a long-term partnership focused on enhancing aviation safety and efficiency in both civil and military domains.
SAMTEL Avionics, a key player in India’s defense technology sector and part of the 50-year-old SAMTEL Group, will collaborate with HENSOLDT, a global leader in airborne and sensor solutions, to establish a co-production facility. The initial focus will be on three key HENSOLDT products: the LCR 100 flight recorder, the Cavi Sight visual landing aid system, and the Cavi Connect data link system.
This collaboration addresses a critical need for advanced avionics solutions tailored to the specific requirements of the Indian market. The co-production initiative is expected to not only boost domestic manufacturing but also foster technology transfer and create skilled jobs within the Indian defense industry.
The products targeted for co-production offer significant advancements in aviation technology. The Cavi Sight system, a groundbreaking visual landing aid and video switching system, promises to revolutionize landings for helicopters and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), particularly in challenging environments. Its ability to enable precise landings in remote or congested areas, like dense forests or urban landscapes, is crucial for search and rescue, police operations, firefighting, and military missions.
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India’s Samtel signed a MoU with Germany’s Hensoldt for advanced avionics manufacturing in the country.
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Cavi Connect addresses the crucial need for secure two-way data exchange between aircraft and ground personnel. Utilizing the LTE (4G) network, Cavi Connect allows up to four simultaneous data connections, ensuring seamless communication and information sharing during airborne operations. This capability is essential for coordinating missions, relaying critical data, and maintaining situational awareness.
The SferiRec LCR 100, a combined lightweight ED-155 flight recorder, integrates voice, data, and video recording into a single, compact unit. This integrated approach simplifies aircraft installation and maintenance while ensuring comprehensive recording of flight parameters, crucial for accident investigation and flight safety analysis.
Puneet Kaura, MD and CEO of SAMTEL Avionics, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “We are elated to announce this partnership with HENSOLDT Avionics. We look forward to a long-term relationship in the field of innovative avionics solutions which are specifically designed to improve the efficiency and safety of aerial operations.”
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Echoing this sentiment, Eugen Maier, Head of Sales Airborne Solutions at HENSOLDT Avionics, commented, “We are confident that these indigenised products tailored for Indian requirements in partnership with SAMTEL have huge potential in both the civil and military domain of aviation in India and will increase the safety factors of the platforms manifold. We look forward to a long journey together with SAMTEL.”
The MoU signing underscores the growing importance of public-private partnerships in the Indian defense sector. By combining SAMTEL’s established presence and expertise in the Indian market with HENSOLDT‘s advanced technology and global reach, the two companies aim to create a powerful synergy that will benefit both the Indian armed forces and the broader aviation industry.
SAMTEL Avionics, a part of the 50-year-old SAMTEL Group, has a strong track record in developing high-technology rugged military systems and products. Their expertise spans the entire value chain, from design and development to manufacturing, testing, qualification, repair, maintenance, obsolescence management, and upgrades.
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HENSOLDT, based in Taufkirchen near Munich, is a leading company in the European defense industry with a global footprint. Specializing in sensor solutions for defense and security applications, HENSOLDT is a system integrator offering platform-independent, networked sensors. The company is actively investing in the development of defense electronics and optronics, including software-defined defense solutions, and expanding its service models and system solution portfolio.
The collaboration between SAMTEL and HENSOLDT is being showcased at Aero India 2025, where SAMTEL is exhibiting its range of high-technology products at Chalet 43B. This partnership represents a significant step forward in the Indian government’s “Make in India” initiative and highlights the growing sophistication of the Indian defense manufacturing sector.
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