Field tests begin for head-up displays designed for infantry soldiers by BAE Systems
ROCHESTER, England, 20 Feb. 2014. Military electro-optics experts at the BAE Systems Electronic Systems segment in Rochester, England, have begun field testing a lightweight head-up display for warfighters operating on foot.
The field tests involve the BAE Systems Q-Warrior helmet-mounted display, which company officials say looks like an aircraft pilot's head-up display but is for the soldier who needs to identify hostile and friendly forces, as well as to coordinate small-unit actions.
The system is designed to increase the infantryman's situational awareness via a bright see-through display with high-resolution color to enable the infantry warfighter to see symbols and video representing waypoints, targets, and other important features overlaid on his view of the world.
“Q-Warrior increases the user's situational awareness by providing the potential to display eyes-out information to the user, including textual information, warnings and threats,” says Paul Wright, soldier systems' business development lead at BAE Systems Electronic Systems.
The infantry head-up display also displays enhanced night vision, routing information, and the ability to track personnel and assets, company officials say.
Among the first users are expected to be non-traditional military units with reconnaissance roles, such as Special Forces, forward air controllers, and joint tactical aircraft controllers (JTACS). After that, airborne forces and Marines could adopt the head-up display.
Q-Warrior also has a large eye-motion box to enable the warfighter to make relatively large movements of his or her helmet while continuing to maintain his view of the display. The Q-Warrior builds on technologies that BAE Systems developed for the Q-Sight range of display systems.
For more information contact BAE Systems Electronic Systems online at www.baesystems.com.
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.
