EFA HMD with Optical Tracker (space model)

In 1983 the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain launched the Future European Fighter Aircraft (FEFA) programme.. In 1984 France reiterated its requirement for a carrier-capable version and demanded a leading role. The UK, West Germany and Italy opted out and established a new EFA programme.

In Turin on 2 August 1985 Italy, West Germany and the UK agreed to go ahead with the Eurofighter. Spain rejoined the Eurofighter project in early September 1985. The aircraft was known as Eurofighter EFA from the late 1980s until it was renamed EF 2000 in 1992. The maiden flight of the Eurofighter prototype took place on 27 March 1994 and on 2nd September 1998, a naming ceremony was held at Farnborough when the Typhoon name was formally adopted. The aircraft was known as Eurofighter EFA from the late 1980s until it was renamed EF 2000 in 1992.

The first flight of the Eurofighter prototype took place on 27 March 1994 and in 1998 the Typhoon name was formally adopted.

Development of the Viper™ HMD optical system and the Crusader two part helmet concepts were combined to create the core Striker ® HMD design in the early 2000’s. The HMD was further developed for the Eurofighter Typhoon  and is now in production for the  UK, Germany, Italy, Spain and Saudi Arabia aircraft. Another variant was developed for the Gripen & Hawk and this is in production for the South African Air Force the Swedish Air Force and others. Both designs are operational and in-squadron service. Another special Striker ® HMD variant was provided for Simulator training.

Conventional systems mean pilots must point aircraft in the direction they want to fire to get the enemy in a field of view before engaging their weapons. This helmet allows the pilot to let his helmet do the pointing (or off-boresight) without wasting vital time manoeuvring the aircraft – a huge advantage in combat.

The Striker® helmet-mounted display provides users with critical head-up, eyes-out situational awareness throughout the mission profile. With its dynamic display of symbology and sensor imagery, it delivers enhanced effectiveness 24 hours a day, in all weather. It has high precision, real world overlay of flight parameters, sensor video, and weapon and sensor targeting information

The Striker® also offers visor-projected night vision through helmet-integrated digital camera technology.

The two part helmet system has a two-part protective liner laser scan form-fitted to the individual pilot an inner shell with the communications and an outer ‘technical’ module supporting the display and Head Tracker. The helmet  tough helmet shell, blast visor and secure fastening provide  a high level of head impact protection and penetration protection,  600 knot wind blast protection and  passive noise reduction  all give the pilot uncompromised comfort and safety. The HMD features a binocular, fully overlapped, visor-projected, 40-degree-wide field of view with a 15mm exit pupil to ensure comfortable, uninterrupted viewing under the most dynamic flight conditions. The visor projected arrangement gives 50mm eye relief to allow use of normal spectacles and /or laser protections. The high-accuracy, low-latency optical head tracker does not require cockpit mapping and it provides better than 1° of accuracy at all viewing angles.

The 1.9 kg total head-supported mass in day configurations maximizes head/neck safety and comfort.

The RAA contains a number of models of equipment and aircraft. The equipment models were used as a marketing aid and often to ensure that the production unit will fit in the space; this was particularly true for Head Up Displays. Such equipment models will have minimal or no functionality. Models might  just be used as weighted units or as cockpit lighting evaluation units. The HUD used on the YF-16 was of the correct weight and envelope but only mounted the Spin 'chute button (a feature only required for the early test flights). Many of these models were made by professional model makers from the original drawings and could be quite expensive; alternatively the real hardware would be used.

The aircraft models range from the simple small scale kits to quite large display items. The large model aircraft were often a marketing tool from places like Airbus or Boeing but may be found in Boardrooms or Reception areas wheras the small models may be given as a visitor handout. Those models made from kits have largely been brought in from home but are useful to illustrate the platform alongside the equipment. The large models will be hugely expensive.