The UK is funding the development of an alternative helmet-mounted display (HMD) for its Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighters. The first helmet will be delivered to Lockheed Martin next week under Phase 1 of a risk-reduction programme, says George Lim, business development manager for helmet display systems at BAE Systems' Avionics business unit.
An18 to 24-month Phase 2 activity will see BAE build helmets for safety-of-flight qualification testing, with a third phase to support F-35 development flight tests. BAE plans to have its HMD ready for the first flight of the F-35 in 2006, but it is more likely to fly first on the short take-off and vertical landing F-35B variant selected for the UK.
BAE's design is based on its binocular helmet for the Eurofighter Typhoon, which uses a high-accuracy, low-latency optical head-tracking system. However, the new digital design does not require a high-voltage supply.
The HMD will be the primary flight display on the F-35, which will not have a head-up display. The planned F-35 HMD is a derivative of the Joint Helmet-Mounted Cueing System in development by Rockwell Collins/Elbit Systems joint venture Vision Systems International (VSI).
Rocket sled testing of the VSI design with the F-35's Martin Baker ejection seat is planned for later this year.
BAE's Typhoon helmet has passed 600kt (1,100km/h) -plus ejection and windblast testing and high-g comfort and stability trials in the BAE Hawk and Saab Gripen. BAE is briefing potential F-16 and F-18 customers on the benefits of its HM Dover the JHMCS, which it says will be a 99% drop-in replacement for the VSI system.
Source: Flight International
