F-35 Pilots Worldwide Will Use Israeli-Developed Helmets

F-35 Pilots Worldwide Will Use Israeli-Developed Helmets

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Israeli-developed technologies have proved their superiority once again. The F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) decided to halt development of the alternate F-35 helmet and focus exclusively on maturing the America Vision Systems Generation 2 (Gen 2) helmet, manufactured by Rockwell Collins and Elbit Systems and currently used in training and testing. The program will recoup approximately $45 million in funds it had originally allocated for the development of the alternate helmet.

F-35. Photo: Lockheed Martin.
F-35. Photo: Lockheed Martin.

In 2011, program and industry officials acknowledged that there were technical issues facing the principle helmet system. To ensure viable combat capability was available when needed, the program began a dual-path development plan as a risk-management strategy in the event maturity issues facing the Gen 2 helmet could not be resolved. BAE Systems began developing the alternate helmet in September 2011.

The government’s decision to proceed exclusively with the principle helmet is indicative of their confidence in the helmet’s performance and the successful resolution of previously identified technical challenges,” said Lorraine Martin, Lockheed Martin Executive Vice President and General Manager of the F-35 Lightning II Program. “To date, more than 100 F-35 pilots have flown more than 6,000 flights and 10,000 hours with the helmet, and their feedback has been very positive. Lockheed Martin and its suppliers will continue to focus on developing and delivering the helmet’s unprecedented capabilities to the warfighter in support of the services’ declaration of Initial Operating Capability.”

iHLS – Israel Homeland Security

The F-35’s Helmet Mounted Display Systems (HMDS) provide pilots with unprecedented situational awareness; all the information pilots need to complete their missions – through all weather, day or night – is projected on the helmet’s visor. Additionally, the F-35’s Distributed Aperture System (DAS) streams real-time imagery from six infrared cameras mounted around the aircraft to the helmet, allowing pilots to “look through” the airframe.

Beginning with aircraft in Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) lot 7, the program will introduce a Gen 3 helmet that features an improved night vision camera, new liquid crystal displays, automated alignment and software enhancements.