Digital head-up display for combat and ISR aircraft introduced by CMC at the Farnborough International Airshow
FARNBOROUGH, England, 10 July 2012. Esterline CMC Electronics Inc. (CMC) in Saint-Laurent, Quebec is introducing and demonstrating an upgraded digital SparrowHawk head-up display (HUD) this week at the Farnborough International Airshow in Farnborough, England.
CMC is showing the all-digital raster-video-capable HUD as part of the company's Cockpit 4000 NexGen technology demonstrator at Farnborough. This next-generation glass cockpit is for advanced military trainer aircraft as well as for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and light attack aircraft, company officials say.
The SparrowHawk digital HUD consists of a solid-state display with a 28-degree field of view. It has built-in testing and internal data logging. The digital SparrowHawk offers electronic boresighting support; automatic boresighting; and O-Level interchangeable combiners.
The digital SparrowHawk can also be fitted with an optional HUD camera, video recording system, and up-front control panel to enable the pilot to select the system mode and manually enter numerical data in the mission system.
When combined with CMC's operational flight programs, the digital SparrowHawk HUD can provide weapon delivery for aircraft that perform a wide range of missions. Configurable symbology offers fleet commonality in look and feel and ensures minimal impact on pilot transition across aircraft types, CMC officials say.
CMC's HUD systems fly today on the Pilatus PC-9 and PC-21; Hawker Beechcraft T-6 B/C, AT-6 B, KAI KT-1C, KT-1T, L-159A/B; and the BAE Hawk Mk51 and Mk66 aircraft upgraded for the Finnish Air Force.
CMC's HUDs are flying on a variety of helicopters such as the Westland Super Lynx 300, Mil Mi-24, and the PZL Swidnik W-3PL Gluszec. CMC also has completed development and flight testing for the A-10C HUD upgrade program.
For more information contact Esterline CMC Electronics online at www.cmcelectronics.ca, or the Farnborough International Airshow at www.farnborough.com. Also follow Military & Aerospace Electronics and Avionics Intelligence daily Farnborough show coverage online at www.militaryaerospace.com/farnborough-report.
Follow Military & Aerospace Electronics and Avionics Intelligence news updates on Twitter
John Keller | Editor
John Keller is editor-in-chief of Military & Aerospace Electronics magazine, which provides extensive coverage and analysis of enabling electronic and optoelectronic technologies in military, space, and commercial aviation applications. A member of the Military & Aerospace Electronics staff since the magazine's founding in 1989, Mr. Keller took over as chief editor in 1995.
