A significant success was achieved in line with the localization and nationalization targets in Türkiye's defense industry. The Helicopter Visual Landing Support Lighting System (HEGIDAS), which was first localized by STM Defense Technologies Engineering and Trading Inc. (STM) and is of vital importance in warships, was integrated and started to be used in a corvette export project.
Foreign Dependency Ended: Local HEGIDAS Developed
The Helicopter Visual Landing Support Lighting System (HEGİDAS), which is used on surface warships and has been supplied from abroad until now, was brought to Türkiye in 2023 as a result of STM's intensive R&D studies. This national system, jointly developed by STM and Berkin Defense Industry Engineering Trade Inc., was recorded as an important localization success in the military maritime field.
On Duty in the First Export Project
The domestic HEGIDAS was successfully integrated into a ship in a corvette export project built under the prime contractor STM. Having successfully completed the challenging acceptance tests, Türkiye's national HEGIDAS has now started to actively serve. This development is of great importance in terms of the HEGIDAS system being developed for the first time by a domestic company with national resources and being used within the scope of its first export project.
Will Serve on 12 Warships
The success of the domestically produced HEGİDAS is not limited to this. The system will be integrated into another corvette built under the main contractor STM within the scope of export. In addition, it is planned to be integrated into 3 corvettes in the Malaysia Corvette Project and a total of 6 ships in the country, including ships 12 to 6 of the National Ship Project MİLGEM Stacking Class. With these projects, HEGİDAS will undertake critical tasks on a total of 12 surface platforms in the country and abroad.
The Importance of HEGIDAS: Supporting Safe Landing of Helicopter Pilots
HEGİDAS, which consists of visual guidance and flight deck lighting equipment, includes special software that ensures the smooth operation of the system equipment. This critical system plays a vital role in ensuring that helicopter pilots approach and land safely on the ship. Thanks to HEGİDAS, which was developed domestically and nationally, helicopters will be able to land safely on the ship in both day and night operations. HEGİDAS, which offers pilots a safe operation opportunity in night operations where visibility conditions are limited, also significantly reduces the workload of pilots. HEGİDAS is a system that can be used on all military surface platforms such as corvettes, frigates, logistic support or tanker ships with helicopter platforms.
The development of Türkiye's domestic HEGIDAS system and the commencement of its first export project have been a great source of pride as a concrete indicator of the nationalization efforts in the defense industry. This success is considered an important step that will strengthen Türkiye's technological independence in the military maritime field and increase the competitiveness of the domestic defense industry in the international market.
