EADS and DRS Technologies have agreed to collaborate on production and marketing of the Hellas laser-based obstacle warning system in the U.S. Hellas is said to offer “unprecedented protection” for helicopters against difficult-to-detect obstacles such as power lines.

The early-warning laser radar-based device detects obstacles, such as power lines and poles, that can be difficult to detect visually. The system probes its surroundings with an eye-safe laser beam and can recognize with high precision even thin wires at significant distances. Hellas is also effective in detecting obstacles such as trees and wind turbines.

The Hellas system provides obstacle warning information optically and acoustically.