BAE selected to supply F-35 joint strike fighter (JSF) helmet display solution

Posted by Skyler Frink

London, UK, 10 Oct. 2011. BAE systems was selected by Lockheed Martin to supply a Night Vision Goggle Helmet Mounted Display system for the F-35 during the next phase of its development. The NVG HMD will feature detachable Night Vision Goggles and incorporate the latest Q-SIGHT™ waveguide display. It will also include an optical Head Tracking System for precise weapons delivery and carrier and land-based operations. The optical head trackers allow the HMD to achieve traditional Heads-Up Display (HUD) accuracies and Primary Flight Reference criteria.

BAE Systems will begin delivery of test assets in 2012 to support the F-35 development and integration laboratories, flight-test platforms and flight simulators.

The F-35 JSF is hoping to revolutionize the way information is collected and presented to the pilot and the NVG HMD is planned to integrate with development work to date. The precise optics and head tracker combination enables F-35 weapons delivery, navigation, landing and aircraft management under all flight regimes. The HMD’s modular design will allow for a path to binocular visor-projected displays, alternate image sources and Night Vision Cameras, depending on customer requirements and program needs.

“The NVG HMD will enable all aspects of flight operations and it allows us to build on our long history of successful development programs with Lockheed Martin on the F-35, F-16 and F-22 programs,” said Jim Garceau, vice president and general manager of defence avionics for BAE Systems.