BAE Systems has delivered an Urgent Operational Requirement to the UK’s Royal Air Force (RAF) to help Tornado pilots identify friendly forces.
The defence company has developed a high-tech helmet system which projects data in front of the pilot’s eye allowing instant assessment of points of interest, saving vital seconds during military operations.
The request to develop the Tornado Helmet Mounted Cueing System (HMCS) for the RAF’s Tornado GR4 fleet was received in April last year. Engineers and technicians at BAE Systems integrated the system onto the aircraft over the following months and it is now operational on the Tornado in Afghanistan.
Wing Commander Kurt Hill, FAST Tornado capability manager said: “The Tornado HMCS capability has greatly enhanced the crews’ situational awareness and resource management, enabling the rapid identification of points of interest in the homogeneous Afghan environment.”
Martin Taylor, BAE Systems’ combat air support director, said: “We are delighted with the positive feedback from the RAF crews that have used the HMCS on Tornado in Afghanistan. The speed at which the system was developed and deployed demonstrates our ability to respond effectively to customer requirements. Over the coming months, we will continue to work with the customer, to provide the capability across the wider Tornado fleet.”
Click here to read about how BAE Systems make helmet-mounted displays on TM’s factory visit to the company’s site in Rochester.
