History

During air combat, speed is the key word. One look down in the cockpit can make the difference between life and death. Once realizing this, aircraft manufacturers started displaying information in front of the pilot. This device is known as Head Up Display, HUD. During air combat tracking possibilities are limited to this small HUD area.
In the early eighties, the Soviet Union started production on the MiG-29 and Su-27 and incorporated a helmet sight. This simple sight was put on the helmet and allowed the pilot to look at a target and make a lock. In the west different companies started development at same time.

DASH

In 1984 Elbit Systems of Israel started the work on the DASH helmet (Display And Sight Helmet). This helmet is now known as the DASH Generation I Mk.222A. In 1988, Elbit made the DASH Generation III prototype which saw production in 1989. From this design several slightly different models were made, depending on the aircraft it was mend for. The DASH is fully operational on the major Israeli fighters and is also used on the refurbished MiG-21 and F-5E/F.

DASH helmet

Agile Eye

Kaiser Electronics started their development in 1986 on the Agile Eye. The Agile Eye Plus superceded this in 1990, other improved versions were developed until the venture with Elbit. The teaming up for the JHMCS contract started in 1996 and the joint venture was formed under the name of VSI Vision Systems International LLC.

JHMCS

JHMCS combines a magnetic head tracker with a display projected onto the pilot's visor, giving the pilot a targeting device that can be used to aim sensors and weapons wherever the pilot is looking. With JHMCS, the pilot can aim the radar, air-to-air missiles, infrared sensors, and air-to-ground weapons merely by pointing his/her head at the target and pressing a switch on the flight controls. Additionally, the pilot can view any desired data (airspeed, altitude, target range, etc.) while "heads-up", eliminating the need to look into the cockpit during visual air combat.  A pilot can adjust the helmet's display to go blank when he's looking either at the HUD or down into the cockpit. He can also programme it to go blank for both areas.  The JHMCS is a device that can be hooked up to the HGU-55/P, HGU-56/P and HGU-68/P helmets. Testers are initially developing JHMCS on an F-15. Simultaneous development is being conducted on the Navy's F/A-18. Once the system is developed on these aircraft, it can be integrated into the F-16, the F-22 and the joint strike fighter. As with the DASH III, the prototype JHMCS helmets are based upon the HGU-55/P helmet shell. As the USAF decided to choose the HGU-86/P for its new F-22, and possible entire fighter fleet, the JHMCS has to be redesigned to fit this Alpha HGU-86/P.

Specifications

• Tested ejection safe to 450 KEAS

• Modular Design - quickly and easily convertible to night vision system

• Redundant quick release connectors for safety

• In-flight video recording (camera in helmet)

• Up-look reticles

• Advanced head tracker system 

AIRCRAFT F-15, F-16, F-18, F-22
FIELD OF REGARD UNLIMITED
FIELD-OF-VIEW 20° MONOCULAR, RIGHT EYE
EXIT PUPIL 18 MM
EYE RELIEF > 50 MM
COMPATIBLE HELMETS HGU-55/P(CE), HGU–56/P, HGU-68/P
HMD WEIGHT 4.2 LBS WITH O2 MASK
MTBR 1000 HOURS
LOS COMPUTER UNIT SIZE/WEIGHT 14.3" x 7.9" x 5.3" / <26 LBS

For use on the Rafale the Sextant Avionique Topsight is developed. 

At the same time for use on the Eurofighter GEC Marconi is making the HMD. More info on this can be found in Tim Ripley's article in the Stories section of our Website.