Collins Elbit Vision Systems to build night vision helmet-mounted displays for jet fighter-bomber pilots
PATUXENT RIVER NAS, Md. – Combat avionics experts at Collins Elbit Vision Systems (CEVS) in Fort Worth, Texas, will provide the U.S. and allied militaries with head-up helmet-mounted displays for high-performance jet fighter-bomber aircraft under terms of a $12.9 million contract announced Friday.
Officials of the U.S. Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Md., are asking CEVS to provide 60 JHMCS night vision devices, 60 JHMCS night display adapters, and 30 JHMCS helmet mounted display test sets (HMDTS) for the U.S. Navy.
In addition the contract calls for CEVS to provide 16 JHMCS HMDTS for Canada; five JHMCS HMDTS for Kuwait; and two JHMCS HMDTS for Malaysia, as well as two Hoffman adapter kits for Australia and one Hoffman adapter kit for Switzerland.
Additionally, this contract provides new and modified support equipment; interim repairs; non-recurring engineering, testing, and technical data; and other supplies and services necessary to install NVCD systems that are compatible with the F/A-18 series jet fighter-bombers, and EA-18G electronic warfare (EW) jet.
Related: Navy orders night-vision helmet-mounted displays to help combat pilots fly at night
The JHMCS projects symbology and imagery onto the jet fighter-bomber pilot's helmet-mounted visor to help meet the workload of operating the aircraft; detecting, tracking, and engaging targets; and dealing with emergency situations. It enables high-performance jet fighter and bomber pilots to cue weapons and sensors at night.
The NVCD portion of the system is designed to enable near daytime tactics at night, while also providing the system's head-up display data over the eye in addition to camera video recording of the pilot’s viewpoint.
The NVCD enables aircrews simultaneously to display radar and navigation symbology on the helmet's display and cue short-range air-to-air missiles. This night vision capability helps pilots identify terrain, targets, and other aircraft at night.
Related: Rockwell Collins-ESA to provide 120 head-up helmet-mounted displays for jet fighter-bombers
The JHMCS and NVCD are mounted on a lightweight HGU 55/P helmet shell that can accommodate the day or night modules. The system offers a 100-by-40-degree field of view or 40 degrees circular, with symbology or video inserted into the night-vision scene.
Collins-Elbit Vision Systems is a joint venture of the Raytheon Technologies Corp. Collins Aerospace segment in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Elbit Systems of America in Fort Worth, Texas. On this contract CEVS will do the work in Merrimack, N.H.; Wilsonville, Ore.; Atlanta; and Fort Worth, Texas, and should be finished by July 2022.
For more information contact Raytheon Technologies Collins Aerospace online at www.rtx.com, Elbit Systems of America at www.elbitsystems-us.com, or the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division at www.navair.navy.mil/nawcad.
John Keller | Editor-in-Chief
John Keller is the Editor-in-Chief, Military & Aerospace Electronics Magazine--provides extensive coverage and analysis of enabling electronics and optoelectronic technologies in military, space and commercial aviation applications. John has been a member of the Military & Aerospace Electronics staff since 1989 and chief editor since 1995.
