Lt Col VS Velan, Founder and Chief Technology Officer of Elena Geo Systems, was today honored with the prestigious ‘Igor I Sikorsky Award for Technical Excellence’ presented by Civil Aviation Minister Shri K Rammohan Naidu.

The award recognizes Lt. Col. Velan’s outstanding contribution to helicopter navigation technology, specifically the development of the Elena NavIC Handheld Navigator (ELNHHN) – an advanced navigation tool tailored to the unique challenges of helicopter operations. The ceremony was held at Air Force Auditorium, Subroto Park, New Delhi.

ELNHHN has several versions to meet the needs of different segments of the society such as

Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Air Force, Border Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force and other paramilitary forces

Government: National Disaster Management Authority, Survey of India, Geological Survey of India, Department of Land Surveys and Records, Smart Cities, Police

Industry: Indian Industry Heli, Mining, Agriculture, Logistics, Shipping, Adventure and Tourism

ELNHHN, an entirely indigenous product, offers a cost-effective and reliable alternative to imported navigation systems. Powered by NavIC, GPS and GLONASS, it provides robust positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) solutions, ensuring accuracy and reliability even under the rotor of a helicopter. The handheld device enables pilots to perform precise route planning, flight path monitoring, and seamless takeoffs and landings.

This versatile navigator works efficiently in the cockpit and includes additional instruments such as barometric altitude readings, military grid references and environmental data for improved artillery targeting and battlefield intelligence.

Commenting on this achievement, Lt Col Velan said, “This award underlines our dedication to a vision of ‘Make in India, for a secure India’. Elena NavIC Navigator exemplifies how indigenous technology can meet the critical needs of our Indian oil industry, providing unmatched accuracy and safety. By reducing our dependence on foreign equipment, we are strengthening India’s defense capability and future.”

Founded by Lt. Col. VS Velan and incubated at IIT Kharagpur, Elena Geo Systems has led NavIC technology since its inception in 2012. The company has consistently exploited the indigenous technological capabilities in satellite navigation, providing the defense, government and industrial sectors of India with state. -state-of-the-art navigation products that emphasize precision, reliability and safety.

Following the award ceremony, Elena Geo Systems also showcased its suite of state-of-the-art navigation products at the IsPA event, where Lt. Col. Velan engaged with dignitaries and officials for interactions and demonstrations.