Raytheon Unveils New Helmet Technology

[unhappycamper]

Raytheon Unveils New Helmet Technology
July 24, 2010
Associated Press

FARNBOROUGH, England - As the desert landscape unfolds ahead, the jet fighter pilot glances to his right. Spotting an enemy target, a sensor attached to his helmet relays the information straight back to his flight controls, allowing him to fire immediately without turning his aircraft.

U.S. defense company Raytheon Inc. is giving the first glimpse of its Scorpion helmet technology for F-16 and A-10 combat jets on a simulator at the Farnborough International Airshow after this week announcing a $12.6 million contract with the U.S. Air Force.

Raytheon is marketing the technology, which transmits data on a single-eye monocle attached to an existing helmet, as a more advanced but also cost-effective alternative to current full visor offerings from its competitors - reflecting belt-tightening in the defense aerospace sector amid large cuts to national military budgets.

The monocle is both cheaper to produce than a full visor, and reduces operational costs because it is interchangeable between standard existing helmets. That means a unit can be equipped to full capacity by purchasing a smaller number of monocles that can be shared, instead of having to buy more expensive visor helmets to fit every pilot.

The monocle also improves on existing helmet vision technology by adding both color and night capability to a pilot's field of vision, allowing him to cue up weapons and access data from both on-board and remote sensors. The small size of the unit means that there's no noticeable extra weight on the pilot's head during long missions.

[ixion]

1. There is no such thing as a 'bad' economy for the MIC

every day brings 'new contracts' for killing machines. :(

[SB37]

2. Wow - that sounds pretty cool!

n/t

[HysteryDiagnosis]

3. They are looking for test targets.... wanna help?? n/t

[SB37]

4. What does that even mean???

[HysteryDiagnosis]

5. One, it means do you want to be a test target for yet another new

and improved way to turn people into hamburger and two I don't consider this technology cool.

[daleo]

6. And yet, no Ossama Bin Laden

All this high tech wizardry...it makes you wonder.

[Motown_Johnny]

7. "amid large cuts to national military budgets" Any idea what nation they are talking about?

[Gold Metal Flake]

8. Picture