Aircraft

Elbit Systems has unveiled its Jedeyes rotary-wing helmet-mounted display system, and is promoting the design for use with types such as Boeing's AH-64 Apache attack helicopter.

Offering pilots a wide field of view of 70° x 40°, the lightweight HMD can show data fused from a variety of onboard and offboard sensors, including digital maps and video supplied from unmanned air vehicles, to provide high resolution 3D imagery in daylight, at night, or in brownout conditions, says Elbit.

© Elbit Systems

Information can be displayed on two flat panel displays, or superimposed on the pilot's visor, which can also be used to show obstacle symbology, the company says.

The US Army has, meanwhile, tested Elbit subsidiary Elop’s laser obstacle ranging and display (Lord) system, and could install the design on its Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk utility helicopters in a bid to reduce brownout-induced accidents.

The system uses an eye-safe laser to scan a 30° x 30° sector in front of an aircraft, and creates an image of the area locating potential obstacles from a distance of up to 700m (2,300ft). Additional US Army tests are scheduled to take place early this year, while sources say the system has also attracted interest from the UK Royal Air Force.