Tel Aviv – Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), a world-class aerospace and defense leader, through its subsidiary ELTA Systems Ltd. and DCX Systems Limited has launched NIART SYSTEMS, a Smart Mobility startup focusing on the railway sector. NIART is developing the world’s first cutting-edge system for long-range obstacle detection, delivering an onboard locomotive solution that operates reliably in all weather conditions. The partnership between IAI’s ELTA Systems and India’s publicly listed company DCX Systems Limited is positioned to lead the global shift toward automated railways, significantly improving safety, reliability, and operational efficiency.
Each year, thousands of train accidents worldwide cause human casualties, infrastructure damage and major disruptions to rail traffic, resulting in significant financial losses. Severe weather conditions often lead to delays, costing operators millions in lost revenue and impacting supply chains and national economies. Existing obstacle detection systems, relying mainly on optical sensors – which are highly sensitive to weather conditions and fail in low-visibility environments – leave trains vulnerable to hazards, requiring speed reductions or a complete halt. Adopting advanced systems that protect trains from these risks will enhance safety, reduce delays, and minimize disruptions. Adopting systems that protect passenger and freight trains from such hazards will significantly improve rail safety and reduce service disruptions.
IAI’s ELTA Group is a world leader in developing and producing radar technologies and situational awareness solutions. It’s harnessing its decades of expertise to meet the challenges of the railway industry.
The innovative technology developed by ELTA integrates advanced digital radar, based on autonomous vehicle technology, with multi-spectral electro-optical sensors to deliver a comprehensive and reliable perception system. NIART’s system can detect obstacles – including vehicles, boulders, animals, and people – up to 1,200 meters away, in any weather or visibility conditions. This Driver Assistance System provides real-time alerts and actionable insights, enabling locomotive drivers to brake safely in response to detected hazards. Furthermore, the system automatically detects railway signals and signs, alerting the driver in advance.
NIART has already demonstrated its capabilities on real-world railways. Over the past year, the system has been successfully proven and deployed on its first client’s locomotives, with additional trials conducted globally. Notably, a landmark collaboration with a global railway leader ALSTOM Corporate in the Netherlands has successfully demonstrated fully autonomous locomotive operation based on NIART’s perception system.
One of the first projects NIART Systems will be assisting with is the TRI-NETRA Project which is pioneering all-weather safety solutions for Indian Railways. India’s rail network, one of the largest in the world, faces significant safety challenges due to harsh weather conditions and diverse terrain. Moreover, the growing threat of terrorist attacks and sabotage has become an alarming reality in India. Malicious individuals can place iron poles, explosives, or other dangerous objects on the tracks, threatening the safety of hundreds of passengers. To address these challenges, the TRI-NETRA (Terrain imaging for Drivers – Infrared, Enhanced Optical & Radar Assisted) project was launched by Indian Railways to significantly enhance train safety, particularly in low-visibility conditions caused by dense fog, heavy rain, and dust storms. SEEFAR is a key component of this project, assisting train drivers by providing real-time information about obstacles and hazards on the tracks, long before they pose a threat to operations. TRI-NETRA aims to drastically reduce the risk of accidents, prevent train delays, and improve the overall efficiency of the rail network by ensuring continuous and safe operation in all weather. As part of Indian Railways’ broader modernization efforts, the successful deployment of SEEFAR under TRI-NETRA will set a new benchmark in rail safety, making India a global leader in innovative railway technology.
DCX Systems Limited specializes in manufacturing RF and other Electronic Systems primarily for the Defense and Aerospace sector with its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Bangalore.
Boaz Levy, President and CEO of Israel Aerospace Industries: “As a global leader in robotic ground systems, IAI is pleased to bring that technology to the railway sector through our partnership with DCX Systems with the launch of NIART SYSTEMS. This is only the beginning as we look to integrate this system with more locomotive digital systems, playing a critical role in the transition to autonomous train operations and driverless trains.”
Dr. H.S.Raghavendra Rao, Chairman and Managing director of DCX Systems Limited: “We are excited to collaborate with IAI and ELTA to bring NIART’s groundbreaking smart mobility technology to the railway sector. This partnership marks a significant step toward transforming global rail safety by integrating cutting-edge obstacle detection systems that ensure reliability and operational efficiency, regardless of the weather conditions.”
Dror Bar, CEO of ELTA Systems, Vice President of IAI: Our cooperation with DCX Systems Limited brings a new paradigm to the industry. Operating in the automotive frequency, NIART’s proprietary radar incorporates classical signal and computer vision processing algorithms alongside advanced AI and deep learning methods, delivering unrivaled detection reliability and minimizing false alarms – making railways smarter, safer, and more efficient than ever before. In an era of increasing urbanization, population growth, and road congestion, the need for advanced mobility solutions in the railway industry has never been greater. By combining AI, Big Data, and a wide range of sensor technologies, we are paving the way for a safer, faster, and more connected future.”
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is a world-leading aerospace and defense company innovating and delivering state-of-the-art technologies in space, air, land, naval, cyber & homeland security for defense and commercial markets. Combining the “Start-up Nation” spirit of innovation with decades of combat-proven experience, IAI provides customers with tailor-made, cutting-edge solutions to the unique challenges they face, including satellites, UAVs, missiles, intelligence solutions, weapon systems, air defense systems, robotic systems, radars, business jets, aerostructures, and more. Established in 1953, IAI is one of Israel’s largest technology employers with offices and R&D centers in Israel and abroad.
