U.S. Air Force orders Thales F-16 Scorpion helmet mounted displays

Thales Defense & Security, Inc. (TDSI), received an order under an existing framework contract with NSPA in support of the U.S. Air Force (USAF) for Scorpion Helmet Mounted Display (HMD) retrofit kits to enhance F-16 pilot visualization and situational awareness. The award supports the modernization of HMDs for active duty F-16 block 40 and 50 aircraft by Thales Visionix, a division of TDSI.

The Scorpion HMD kits will replace the Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) and allow the USAF a standardized Scorpion HMD solution across Air Force, Air National Guard (ANG), and USAF Reserve F-16s. Scorpion provides a modern digital platform for enhanced pilot situational awareness with full color symbology and a single display for day and night operations. Tracking accuracy is also improved, as Scorpion is baselined with Visionix's precision HObIT (Hybrid Optically based Inertial Tracker) tracker. The HObIT system provides precise tracking through a fusion of inertial-optical technology.

"Modernization efforts around helmet-mounted displays for aircraft are essential to pilots as they provide critical real-time information directly in their line of sight, enhancing situational awareness, decision-making, and operational efficiency while reducing the need to divert attention from the aircraft's instruments and environment," said Jim Geraghty, Vice President of Visionix, Thales. "Already supporting F-16 Air National Guard pilots with superior awareness and tracking capability, Scorpion kits will now enhance holistic USAF air dominance."

This order, issued by NSPA to support USAF F-16 modernization efforts, is the first of several anticipated delivery orders. The contract arrangement also allows a procurement option for any F-16 NATO partner to modernize with the Scorpion kit capability with similarly configured aircraft. Initial kits are anticipated to be delivered to the USAF in late 2025.

(article source: Thales / editor: Anton van Rijsbergen)
(image source: Thales)