BAE SYSTEMS Awarded Contract for Development of Alternate F-35 Helmet-Mounted Display.

ROCHESTER, U.K. -- BAE Systems Platform Solutions has been awarded a contract by Lockheed Martin for the initial design of an alternate helmet-mounted display (HMD) system for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft. The helmet design is based heavily on the design of the Eurofighter Typhoon binocular helmet, which is in the final stages of development.

The F-35 JSF alternate HMD will be a high-resolution, binocular system driven by powerful processor and graphics processor modules. The head tracker, based on that in the Typhoon helmet, is a high speed, high-accuracy, low-latency optical system. The helmet will be designed to display "virtual HUD" symbology and video imagery from the F-35 sensors and also will be compatible with helmet-mounted high-resolution night vision cameras.

The Eurofighter helmet that serves as the basis for the F-35 design recently passed a series of stringent tests, including impact and penetration to U.K. and European standards, 600-plus-knot windblast, and 600-plus-knot ejection. In addition, high "g" comfort and stability testing has been carried out on the Hawk and Gripen aircraft, ensuring a high degree of confidence in the helmet configuration that will allow BAE Systems to quickly develop the helmet to meet the F-35 specification and the customer's schedule requirements.

The helmet's fully integrated design ensures the compatibility of protection, life support, and electro-optics, and also incorporates the integration of a respirator for protection in nuclear, biological, and chemical environments.

Of three aircraft variants being developed under the multinational Joint Strike Fighter program, the U.K. Royal Navy and Royal Air Force will fly the short take-off and vertical landing version, designated F-35B.

BAE Systems is an international company engaged in the development, delivery, and support of advanced defense and aerospace systems in the air, on land, at sea, and in space. BAE Systems Platform Solutions supports a wide range of military and commercial platforms, including fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft, ground vehicles, and unmanned vehicles with capabilities in vehicle management, human-machine interface, precision navigation, all-weather operation, power management, and mission information management.