Indra Unveils Fully Digital Self-Protection Suite for Aircraft and Helicopters

Spanish defence firm Indra is advancing a groundbreaking, fully digital self-protection system aimed at equipping military aircraft and helicopters with faster, more efficient missile threat response capabilities. The company has wrapped up the design phase and produced the first units, slated for delivery this year to begin integration and testing .

Unlike traditional hybrid systems that blend analogue and digital technology, Indra’s new suite offers a full-digital approach, capable of simultaneously scanning the entire radar spectrum. This enables significantly faster threat detection, giving crews extra time to deploy countermeasures effectively .

Indra calls it a technological leap, one that puts them ahead of the industry, given that many competitors continue to rely on hybrid systems . These systems are essential across a range of platforms—including fighter jets, transport aircraft, and helicopters—especially in high-risk environments facing both advanced adversaries and asymmetric threats like MANPADS (man-portable air-defence systems) .

The digital self-protection suite comprises:

• ALR-400 Full Digital radar warning receiver (for radar-guided threats)

• InWarner laser threat detector

• InShield DIRCM (Directed Infrared Countermeasure) system to defend against infrared-guided missiles

• And integrates CFD (Chaff and Flare Dispensers) to mislead both radar-guided and infrared-guided threats—a highly modular suite adaptable to different armed forces’ needs .

Indra has already deployed similar systems on F-18 fighters, A400M and C295 transport aircraft, and NH90 and Tiger helicopters. The company also plays a key role in the Eurofighter’s self-protection capabilities, ensuring these platforms remain effective as threats evolve .

Moreover, Indra leads or participates in several European R&D projects—CROWN, SCEPTER, REACT / REACT II, CARMENTA, and CARMENTA FP—that focus on enhancing electronic warfare, multifunction systems, and AI-driven self-protection technologies for future aerial platforms .

Why It Matters

This fully digital system marks a clear shift toward faster, more adaptable defence tech. By transitioning from analogue-dependent designs to fully digital architectures, Indra is betting on greater responsiveness and modular flexibility as the battlefield evolves.