Rockwell, Elbit Delivers F-35 Gen 3 Helmet Mounted Display System To Lockheed

Rockwell Collins delivered Gen III Helmet Mounted Display System (HMDS) to Lockheed Martin for software integration into the F-35 Lightning II aircraft.

The Gen III HMDS will be integrated into Low Rate Initial Production 7 for the F-35 program. The F-35 Gen II HMD will be demonstrated at the Farnborough Air Show.

“The HMDS provides F-35 pilots with digital night vision and head tracking capabilities available today,” said Raanan Horowitz, president and chief executive officer, Elbit Systems.  “Providing an accurate and readable virtual HUD with high resolution night vision, combined with low latency, is essential to the execution of the F-35 complex missions during day and night operations.”

The state-of-the-art HMD features a binocular 40x30 degrees field-of-view, high brightness and high resolution display, with integrated digital night vision. When fully integrated with the aircraft sensors and systems, the HMDS provides the F-35 pilot with unparalleled situational awareness.

The system provides a lightweight HMD, with optimized center of gravity and maximum comfort for reduced pilot fatigue. Everything about the F-35 Gen III HMDS is designed to enhance the fighter pilot’s precision, efficiency and safety, while reducing the overall cost of the program. The Gen III design includes improved optics, image device and backlight, along with head tracking capability and the next generation Night Vision Camera.