Thales to equip U.S. Air Force F16 with Helmet Mounted Display

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Thales subsidiary, Thales Defense & Security, Inc. (TDSI), has been awarded a contract for Scorpion Helmet Mounted Display (HMD) retrofit kits to support U.S. Air Force (USAF) F-16 HMD modernization.

The Scorpion HMD kits provide a modern digital platform allowing for enhanced pilot situational awareness with full color symbology and a single display for both day and night operations. The Scorpion HMD kits will replace the Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) and allow the USAF a common Scorpion HMD solution across Air Force, Air National Guard and USAF Reserve F-16s.

Thales Visionix, a division of Thales Defense & Security, Inc. (TDSI), a world leader in the development and integration of advanced optics, motion tracking and symbology for fixed and rotary wing HMDs, will manage the contract.

Thales subsidiary, Thales Defense & Security, Inc. (TDSI), has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Air Force for Scorpion Helmet Mounted Display (HMD) retrofit kits to enhance U.S. Air Force (USAF) F-16 pilot visualization and situational awareness. The award supports modernization of HMDs for active duty F-16 block 40 and 50 aircraft by Thales Visionix, a division of Thales Defense & Security, Inc. (TDSI).

This contact, issued by the USAF utilizing the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA), is the first of several anticipated delivery orders to modernize the USAF fleet of F-16s with more interoperable technology. The contract arrangement also allows a procurement option for any F-16 NATO partner to modernize with Scorpion kit capability. Initial kits are anticipated to be delivered to the USAF in early 2025.

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 and USAF Reserve F-16s. Scorpion provides a modern digital platform allowing for enhanced pilot situational awareness with full color symbology and a single display for both day and night operations. Tracking accuracy is also markedly 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.

About Thales

Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global leader in advanced technologies specialized in three business domains: Defence & Security, Aerospace, and Cyber & Digital.

It develops products and solutions that help make the world safer, greener and more inclusive.

The Group invests close to 4 billion a year in Research & Development, particularly in key innovation areas such as AI, cybersecurity, quantum technologies, cloud technologies and 6G.

Thales has close to 81,000 employees in 68 countries. In 2023, the Group generated sales of 18.4 billion.

About Thales in the USA

In the United States, Thales has conducted significant research and development, manufacturing, and service capabilities for more than 130 years.

Today, Thales has 37 locations around the U.S., employing nearly 5,000 people. Working closely with U.S. customers and local partners, Thales is able to meet the most complex requirements for every operating environment.

Documents

FINAL - Thales awarded USAF F-16 Helmet Mounted Display contract.pdf

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