Lake Fusion Technologies LLC (LFT), LFT Airborne GmbH, and Timberline Aerospace LLC today announced a long‑term Cooperation Agreement aimed at deploying the LiDAR‑based SitAwS (Situational Awareness System) across helicopter fleets worldwide.

This multi‑national partnership unites advanced German LiDAR engineering with proven U.S. certification, integration, and installation expertise. Together, the companies will accelerate the introduction of next‑generation obstacle detection and situational‑awareness solutions for civilian, government, and special‑mission operators.

SitAwS is engineered to enhance pilot awareness in degraded visual environments and low‑altitude operations, providing real‑time detection of drones, wires, poles, trees, and other obstacles. Leveraging high‑resolution LiDAR and advanced filtering algorithms, the system supports safer missions while maintaining full compliance with modern aerospace certification and airworthiness standards.

Rather than operating under a traditional supplier‑customer model, this agreement establishes a coordinated, milestone‑driven cooperation focused on scalable STC (Supplemental Type Certificate) programs. Initial platform targets include the UH‑60 Black Hawk, H145, and H125/AS350 series, with immediate expansion planned for additional fleet types based on global demand.

Tyson Davis, President of Timberline Helicopters Inc., stated:
“LFT and LFT Airborne bring serious sensor and software depth. What impressed us is the maturity of the architecture and the clear certification pathway. This is not a concept—it’s an operational safety enhancement ready to scale.”

Christian Meyer, CEO of LFT Airborne GmbH, added:
“Timberline understands aircraft integration and operator realities. Their STC capability and field experience make them the right partner to industrialize SitAwS for the U.S. market. Together, we can move from technology validation to fleet deployment.”

LFT Airborne and Timberline Aerospace will jointly exhibit at Verticon 2026 in Atlanta, March 10–13 (Booth 5624), marking the formal global introduction of the SitAwS partnership program.

This collaboration underscores a shared commitment to materially improving helicopter safety—reducing wire‑strike risk, supporting safer landings in degraded environments, and enabling operators to protect aircrews, airframes, and mission outcomes through practical, certifiable, and scalable technology integration.