French aerospace firm Thales has been awarded a contract to produce and deliver Scorpion helmet-mounted displays (HMD) to US Air National Guard F-16 pilots.
The Scorpion is a full-color monocular display that utilizes augmented reality to support fixed or rotary-wing aircraft and fighters.
Its hybrid inertial optical tracking reportedly enhances pilot vision and situational awareness, ensuring mission success.
As part of the contract, Thales will provide Scorpion retrofit kits to replace the current Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) used in F-16 aircraft.
“With Scorpion’s superior situational awareness, featuring a single display that provides color symbology and allows for the use of unmodified night vision goggles, it is unmatched in the HMD marketspace,” Thales chief executive officer Mike Sheehan said. “Furthermore, we can provide the same upgrade to any customer flying a JHMCS-equipped aircraft.”
The deal is expected to help make the combat-proven system available to NATO forces.