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In the 1970s, fighter aircraft began to appear with Head-Up Displays (HUD) that projected key information, targeting crosshairs etc. onto a seemingly clear piece of glass. HUDs allowed pilots to keep their eyes in the sky, instead of looking down at their instruments. In the 1990s, another innovation appeared: helmet-mounted displays (HMDs) put the HUD inside the pilot’s helmet, providing this information even when the pilot wasn’t looking straight ahead. The Israelis were already pioneering a system called DASH (Display And Sight Helmet) when a set of former East German MiG-29s, equipped with Soviet HMDs, slaughtered USAF F-16s in NATO exercises. Suddenly, helmet-mounted displays became must-haves for modern fighters – and a key partnership positioned Elbit to take DASH to the next level.
This DID Spotlight article offers insights into the rocky past, successful present, and competitive future of a program that has experienced its share of snags and controversy – but went on to become the #1 helmet-mounted sight in the world. It also details the game-changing effects of Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing Systems on air combat, its production sets and known customers, and all contracts since full-rate production began.
JHMCS: A Combat Multiplier
The HMD Revolution
Wir haben euch
ge-pwn-t
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Early infrared-guided air-air missiles had poor kill probabilities because they had to be launched from the rear, where the enemy engine’s heat source provided a clear enough target. Subsequent improvements allowed SRAAMs to be launched head-on, as improved sensors and computer processing allowed the missiles to detect and target the heat created by air friction. The AIM-9L Sidewinder’s new capabilities gave British Harriers a clear combat advantage over the Falklands in 1982, and arguably kept Britain from losing that war.
Computer processing and seekers have continued to improve. A number of the most modern SRAAMs use a form of infrared imaging that sees pictures rather than just heat sources, and can ignore many flares and other countermeasures. At the missile’s other end, improvements to maneuverability and motors enable a missile to make several maneuvers at g-force levels that manned fighters can’t even approach. As a result, close-in combat has become a much deadlier enterprise, where the winner may well be the aircraft that shoots first.
In that environment, improvements designed to make that “shoot first” outcome more likely become very valuable.
One way to improve one’s odds is to fly a plane with excellent pitch and slew capabilities, allowing the pilot to point at enemy aircraft and quickly get off a shot without having to engage in lengthy maneuvering. The forward canard & delta designs of 4+ generation European fighters, and Sukhoi’s advanced SU-30 family aircraft, are no accident. Neither is the F-22A Raptor’s thrust vectoring capability, a trait shared by Russian SU-30MKI/M, SU-35, and MiG-35 fighters.
Another approach is to add a helmet-mounted display (HMD). If the missile seeker has a wide enough cone, the pilot can simply use his head for the point maneuver, confirming lock-on and firing a SRAAM even at angles that would seem to be outside any threat range based on the position of his aircraft. While aircraft with excellent ‘slew and point’ capabilities + HMDs offer the best combination, older aircraft with HMDs and better missiles can also become extremely effective.
Air combat exercises held shortly after the fall of the Soviet Union, in which German MiG-29s with helmet-mounted displays and AA-11 missiles slaughtered American F-16s by the dozens, drove that point home with brutal clarity.
JHMCS
High Off-Boresight
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It shouldn’t be surprising that Israel had also been working on helmet-mounted displays for some time, and was already flying a system from Elbit called DASH (Display And Sight Helmet). Vision Systems International, LLC is a joint venture between Elbit Systems Ltd. Subsidiary EFW Inc. and Rockwell Collins; when the USA went looking for a “Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System” of its own, VSI won the contract in 1996.
JHMCS projects visual targeting and aircraft performance information on the back of the helmet’s visor, including aircraft altitude, airspeed, gravitational pull, angle of attack, and weapons sighting, enabling the pilot to monitor this information without interrupting the field of view through the cockpit canopy. The system uses a magnetic transmitter unit fixed to the pilot’s seat and a magnetic field probe mounted on the helmet to define helmet pointing positioning. A Helmet Vehicle Interface (HVI) interacts with the aircraft system bus to provide signal generation for the helmet display. This offers significant improvements to close combat targeting and engagement.
A 1998 Air Power International article explains:
“Unlike the embedded DASH, the JHMCS is a clip-on package, which can be latched into position with one hand in flight, on a modified HGU-55/P, HGU-56/P or HGU-68/P helmet. The JHMCS is a much more advanced design than the DASH, and builds on the collective technology base of Elbit and Kaiser. It employs a newer, much faster digital processing package, but retains the same style of electromagnetic position sensing as the older DASH does. The CRT package is more capable, but remains limited to monochrome presentation of calligraphic symbology. While the manufacturers have declined to comment, it would appear that the JHMCS will provide support for raster scanned imagery to display FLIR/IRS&T pictures for operations in poor visibility or at night. The photograph of the helmet separated from the Display Unit clearly illustrates the high voltage coaxial and discrete/serial connections via the umbilical, which is embedded in the helmet. Unlike the DASH series, the high voltage supply is not embedded in the helmet and feeds up via the umbilical, through a quick disconnect inline high voltage rated connector. An attachment is provided to allow a NVG package to be clipped on during flight. The JHMCS will provide a 20 degree FoV (Field of view) for the right eye, with an 18 mm exit pupil.”
As a nice additional feature, the helmet has a camera that records the JHMCS targeting display on videocassette for post-mission debriefing.
Precision air to ground weapons can’t be fired with JHMCS targeting alone, because the system’s accuracy requirements weren’t set that high. That hasn’t stopped the helmet from becoming extremely useful for ground engagements, however, due to its ability to point the aircraft’s more precise FLIR or targeting systems toward any target the pilot is looking at. This eliminates the long and difficult “soda straw view sync-up” process with the pilot’s view out the window, which can easily take 30 seconds or more, and tends to result in predictably targetable flight patterns. Instead, JHMCS-equipped planes can fly much more freely as they run through a quicker “look, sharpen, shoot” process.
Doing all of this without killing the pilot would be nice, and so the JHMCS helmet system has been ejection-tested using full sled tests. This was one of the system’s most challenging design requirements, but their success ensures that the extra weight on top of the pilot’s head won’t create neck injuries during the violent, rocket-assisted blast-out that characterizes modern ejection seats.
JHMCS helmets have become the de facto global standard for fighter helmet-mounted displays. They currently equip US F-15 Eagle family, F-16, and F/A-18 Hornet Family aircraft, and have become popular export items for countries buying these American “teen series” fighters.
After a long period with limited competition beyond Russia’s Shchel-3UM and Elbit’s own DASH, other modern fighters and manufacturers are beginning to catch up. BAE is offering an HMSS/Striker helmet for Eurofighter Typhoon customers, and its Q-Sight has become part of a backup HMD option for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program if VSI’s own next-gen HMDS system fails. Saab/BAE’s Cobra helmet has begun equipping JAS-39 Gripen customers. The French Rafale still has no serving HMD, which is a real weakness, but Thales’ TopSight is qualified on French Mirage 2000-5s, and on India’s new MiG-29K carrier-borne fighters.
JHMCS Improvements & Upgrades
JHMCS-II/h
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No system remains static, and JHMCS has continued to improve since its introduction.
NVCD: The night vision package now offers JHMCS 40-degree night vision cueing and display (NVCD) units, which give pilots JHMCS symbology in their night vision goggles. These 2-tube or 4-tube options offer a lower weight display option that nonetheless depends on a JHMCS helmet to make it work. The US Navy has chosen the 40 x 40 degree field of view 2-tube option at the moment, rather than the 100 x 40 degree QuadEye.
JHMCS-II: In October 2011, VSI unveiled a new JHMCS-II system, based on Elbit Systems’ new Targo helmet. The formal product debut was June 2013, offering a lighter and simpler, night-vision capable, all-digital HMD, which replaces the current bulky connecting wire with a much thinner tether. The daytime display offers a full color LCD that highlights friendly and enemy forces. For night operations, the visor is replaced with a modular, snap-on night vision goggle (NVG) that preserves the full-color symbology.
A Digital JHMCS (D-JHMCS) version still uses the standard JHMCS magnetic helmet tracker, and the same gear hooked into the plane, but adds the thinner tether, color symbology and improved day/night capabilities. D-JHMCS is designed as a drop-in upgrade to fighters that already have the original system.
The full JHMCS II is for new platforms like the F-15SE Silent Eagle, and can also be added to existing qualified platforms as a new installation or full replacement. It uses Targo’s new optical-inertial tracker, moves more processing to the helmet, and replaces the standard JHMCS aircraft integration with a lightweight Aircraft Interface Unit (ACIU) that doesn’t need cooling, a mounting tray or cockpit mapping. That makes for a lighter overall system, and faster initial integration with the pilot’s fighter.
JHMCS: The Program to Date
The total value of all JHMCS production contracts since the beginning of low-rate production is over $550 million – a figure that excludes minor contract modifications and unannounced sales. As of June 2013, JHMCS had 26 customers, but it seems likely that VSI counts the US Air Force, Air National Guard, and Navy as separate customers. Customers that DID has been able to verify include:
F-15s: USAF, US Air National Guard, South Korea (F-15K).
F-16s: USAF, Belgium, Chile, Denmark, Greece, Iraq (F-16IQ block 52), The Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Taiwan, Turkey. UAE (F-16E/F) confirmed via a social media search.
F/A-18 A-D: Australia, Canada, Finland, Switzerland. USMC and USN presumed.
F/A-18 E/F: US Navy; Australia likely.
Foreign Military Sale requests that haven’t yet turned into verified customers include:
F-15s: Singapore (F-15SG, possible but could also use DASH), Saudi Arabia (F-15SA, not delivered yet).
F-16s: Morocco (F-16C/D block 52).
F/A-18s: Kuwait (F/A-18C), Malaysia (F/A-18D, modifications underway).
In addition, note that VSI partner Elbit Systems is an Israeli company. Sales to Israel might not need to be announced by the Pentagon if Israel were to buy JHMCS systems direct from Elbit, to supplement the DASH (Display And Sight Helmet) on Israeli Air Force F-16s and F-15s.
Announced production stages, amounts, and customers include:
Back in 2007, Boeing predicted that the final number of JHMCS units produced will exceed 2,800 for all customers, including those produced during their 4 Low-Rate Initial Production runs. By June 2013, Elbit was touting 6,000 customer units sold.
JHMCS: FRP Contracts & Key Events
Unless otherwise stated, all contracts are issued by the Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH, to Boeing in St. Louis, MO. While the system itself is from the Rockwell Collins/Elbit joint venture Vision Systems International, Boeing is the prime contractor for the JHMCS program. VSI then receives sub-contracts from Boeing. Note that this list presently includes only contracts and events since the beginning of Full Rate Production; the Low Rate Initial Production phase had some bumpy moments, which are detailed in Appendix A.
FY 2015
First Generation III HMDS delivered to F-35 Joint Program Office.
August 13/15: Rockwell Collins has delivered the first Generation III helmet-mounted display system to the F-35 Joint Program Office. Use of a Distributed Aperture System (DAS) will allow pilots using the HMDS to see through the aircraft’s airframe, with the helmet system scheduled to enter the F-35 fleet during low rate initial production lot 7, timetabled for next year.
FY 2013
Orders – USA, Finland, Iraq; JHMCS-II/ D-JHMCS product launch; Eurofighter playing HMD catch-up.
JHMCS-II display
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June 13/13: JHMCS II. Elbit Systems formally announces the JHMCS II’s product launch availability to purchase, beginning at the 50th Paris Air Show on June 17/13. The helmet comes in 2 versions.
Digital JHMCS (D-JHMCS) still uses the magnetic helmet tracker, and the same gear hooked into the plane, but adds the same color symbology and improved day/night capabilities. D-JHMCS is designed as a drop-in upgrade to JHMCS-equipped fighters.
JHMCS II is for new platforms like the F-15SE Silent Eagle, and can also be added to existing qualified platforms as a new installation or full replacement. It uses the new optical-inertial tracker and replaces the JHMCS aircraft system with a lightweight Aircraft Interface Unit (ACIU) that doesn’t need cooling, a mounting tray or cockpit mapping. Elbit Systems | JHMCS II site.
JHMCS-II/ D-JHMCS launched
May 17/13: Support. Vision Systems International LLC in Fort Worth, TX receives a maximum $31.1 million firm fixed price, sole source contract for various aircraft spare parts, new aircraft installs, and support equipment.
Work will be performed in Texas, Oregon, and Israel, and is scheduled to be complete by Jan 31/15. The contract covers the US Navy, USAF, Belgium (F-16 MLU), Iraq (F-16IQ), Kuwait (F/A-18C/D), Taiwan (F-16+), and Chile (F-16 var). FY 2014 through 2015 Foreign Military Sales funds will be used, alongside USAF and US Navy budgets. The contracting will be managed by the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation at Robins AFB, GA (SPRWA1-11-D-0007-0005).
Dec 19/12: F-18 Retrofits. Boeing in St. Louis, MO receives an $8.9 million firm-fixed-price delivery order against a previously issued Basic Ordering Agreement for 285 Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) retrofit kits in support of F/A-18C and F/A-18F aircraft.
Work will be performed in St. Louis, MO (56%); Meza, AZ (37%); and El Paso, TX (7%), and is expected to be complete in June 2015. All contract funds are committed immediately, of which $1.35 million will expire at the end of the current fiscal year, on Sept 30/13. US NAVAIR in Patuxent River, MD manages the contract.
May 17/13: Support. Vision Systems International LLC, Fort Worth, TX receives a maximum $31.1 million firm fixed price, sole source contract for various aircraft spare parts, new aircraft installs, and support equipment.
Work will be performed in Texas, Oregon, and Israel, and is scheduled to be complete by Jan 31/15. The contract covers the US Navy, USAF, Belgium (F-16 MLU), Iraq (F-16IQ), Kuwait (F/A-18C/D), Taiwan (F-16+), and Chile (F-16 var). FY 2014 through 2015 Foreign Military Sales funds will be used, alongside USAF and US Navy budgets. The contracting will be managed by the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation at Robins AFB, GA (SPRWA1-11-D-0007-0005).
Nov 1/12: FRP-9 – USN, Finland, Iraq. Vision Systems International LLC in Fort Worth, TX receives a sole source, maximum $111 million, firm fixed price contract for new aircraft installs, spares and support equipment for the US Navy, Iraq, and Finland.
Work will be performed in Texas, Oregon and Israel, and funded via FY 2013 – 2014 US Navy funds and Foreign Military Sales. The contract runs until Dec 31/14, and is managed by the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation at Robins AFB, GA (SPRWA1-11-D-0007-0004).
FRP-9 order
Oct 16/12: Typhoon HMSS. Eurofighter GmbH touts the new “Head Equipment Assembly (HEA), developed by BAE Systems’ Electronic Systems, [which] comprises the aircrew helmet and all the sub-system elements needed to display a real world overlaid picture on the helmet visor.” The accompanying video has a Typhoon pilot explaining why this is so powerful, and expressing his belief that it’s impossible to beat an enemy if they have a system like this and you don’t.
“Once you’ve had this helmet on, you don’t ever want to be without it.”
All well and good. The fact is, American fighters have had these capabilities for almost a decade now, via JHMCS. Something they’ve used to their advantage in international competitions against the Typhoon, and against other fighters like the French Rafale that lack an accompanying HMD.
FY 2012
VSI is split; Orders – USA, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Finland, Pakistan, Switzerland; Requests/Prep – Kuwait, Malaysia; JHMCS-II will equip F-15SE Silent Eagle; How to kill a Raptor.
Equipped.
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Summer 2012: Split. The VSI joint venture is restructured to create 2 product centers. Elbit Systems of America leads the group in Fort Worth, TX, responsible for JHMCS and NVCD.
Rockwell Collins leads the group in Cedar Rapids, IA, which is responsible for the F-35’s challenging (and, to date, problematic) HMDS. Source: Elbit Systems of America.
VSI split in 2
July 30/12: F-15SE. Boeing announces that they’ve validated the integration of the next-generation JHMCS II/h on the company’s F-15SE Silent Eagle demonstrator aircraft. The new HMD is designed to be lighter, easier to maintain, and more self-sufficient, making it easier to integrate into new aircraft. Integrating this enhanced system onto the Silent Eagle took less than 3 months between ‘go-ahead’ and first flight.
All this is important to Boeing, because its F-15SE with JHMCS-II is the offer on the table for South Korea’s F-XIII competition, against EADS Eurofighter and Lockheed Martin’s F-35.
June 28/12: Kuwait. The US DSCA announces [PDF] Kuwait’s Foreign Military Sale request for 43 JHMCS Cockpit Units, along with their accompanying Single Seat Electronic Units and Helmet Display Units for the pilots of its F/A-18C Hornet fighters. It complements their February 2012 DSCA request [PDF] for an initial batch of 80 operational AIM-9X-2 short range air-air missiles, whose wide seeker cones make them the perfect complement to JHMCS’ look and launch capabilities.
Kuwait will also be buying related spare and repair parts, support equipment, tool and test equipment, personnel training and training equipment, publications and technical data, and other U.S. Government and contractor support. The latter will include some travel to Kuwait on a temporary basis for program and technical support, and management oversight.
The estimated cost if a contract is negotiated is up to $51 million, and the principal contractor will be the fighter’s manufacturer, Boeing Aerospace in St. Louis, MO. VSI in San Jose, CA will, of course, supply the JHMCS equipment.
March 1/12: FRP-8 A $31.7 million firm-fixed-price contract for JHMCS full rate production: 111 systems for the U.S. Navy and, under the Foreign Military Sales Program, Pakistan, Belgium, Australia, Canada, Switzerland, and Finland. Work will be performed in San Jose, CA until Dec 31/13 (F33657-01-D-0026).
FRP-8 order
Feb 28/12: How to Kill an F-22. USAF Lt. General Herbert “Hawk” Carlisle explains how JHMCS can help a Boeing F-15 Eagle shoot down an F-22, at a breakfast event sponsored by the Air Force Association in Rosslyn, Virginia.
“They always start defensive as you might imagine because anything else is kind of a waste of gas. So the F-22 always start defensive. On rare occasions the F-22 guy — first of all, the Eagle guy, you have to fly a perfect lag fight. You have to have AIM-9X and JHMCS to get an off-boresight IR(infrared) capability. And the F-22 guy has to put up his power a nanosecond too early and not use his countermeasures and you may get a fleeting, one nanosecond AIM-9X shot, and that’s about it.”
Good luck with that, but at least it’s a chance. Or, it’s disinformation designed to get opposing pilots to try a low-odds shot. You decide. Flight International.
How to kill an F-22 Raptor
Feb 14/12: NVCD. A $19.8 million firm-fixed-price contract for NVCD standard field night vision devices for the US Air Force and Navy. Work is expected to be complete by September 2013 (FA8607-11-C-2795, P00002).
Dec 12/11: Iraq. The US DSCA announces Iraq’s request for what amounts to a 2nd operational squadron of F-16IQs, plus weapons. The request for 18 more fighters would bring Iraq’s total to 36, but unlike their initial December 2010 request, the figure given is up to $2.3 billion, instead of $4.2 billion; 1st-time sales are always more expensive.
The most attention-grabbing item in the request, however, is 120 JHMCS helmets. Looks like Iraq is planning on buying a lot more American planes.
Nov 28/11: Malaysia. Boeing in St. Louis, MO receives a $17.3 million firm-fixed-price order for the design, development, and installation of engineering change proposal (ECP 618) retrofit kits for Malaysia’s 8 F/A-18D Hornet fighters, under the Foreign Military Sales Program. This contract action also includes installation of systems that are part of the Malaysian upgrade, and training for ECP 618 and ECP 624. Conversations with Boeing explain that:
“The majority of work to be performed under this contract is within the scope defined in the baseline Foreign Military Sales case and not the May 2011 Defense Security Cooperation Agency announcement for the Advanced Targeting Forward Looking Infrared [targeting pods, see DID coverage] which itself was an amendment to the existing baseline FMS case.”
That scope includes GPS improvements, a colored moving-map cockpit display, changes to IFF, and the addition of the JHMCS helmet-mounted sight. Work will be performed in St. Louis, MO (70%), and Butterworth, Malaysia (30%), and is expected to be complete in April 2015. US Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, MD will manage the sale on behalf of its FMS client. See also Boeing.
Oct 21/11: JHMCS-II. VSI unveils the upgraded JHMCS-II, which would equip the stealth-enhanced F-15SE they’re offering in South Korea’s FX-III fighter competition. JHMCS-II is later revealed to be based on Elbit systems’ new Targo helmet. It offers a lighter and simpler, night-vision capable, all-digital HMD, with color LCD for the daytime display. Flight International | Aviation Week
JHMCS-II
FY 2010 – 2011
Customers – USA, Belgium, and ??? (FRP-7); Requests – Oman, Saudi Arabia. NCVD night vision into production.
Helmet & JHMCS
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Aug 25/11: Vision System International, LLC in San Jose, CA receives a maximum $36.1 million, firm-fixed-price contract for various A/24A-56 JHMCS spares and support equipment. Work will be performed in San Jose, CA and in Oregon, on behalf of the US Navy, USAF, and the US Defense Logistics Agency, until Dec 31/15. The Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Warner Robins at Robbins AFB, GA manages this contract (SPRWA1-11-D-0007).
Aug 25/11: Vision System International, LLC in San Jose, CA in San Jose, CA receives a maximum $10.6 million, firm-fixed-price contract for JHMCS cable assemblies and transmitter subassemblies. Work will be performed in San Jose, CA and in Oregon, on behalf of the USAF, until March 26/13. The Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Warner Robins at Robbins AFB, GA manages this contract (SPRWA1-11-D-0007, PO 001).
Nov 18/10: FRP-7. A $59.7 million contract, covering JHMCS Full Rate Production Lot 7 buys for the USAF “and foreign military sales.” At this time, the entire amount has been committed (F33657-01-D-0026).
FRP-7 order
Oct 20/10: Saudi Arabia request. Saudi Arabia includes 338 JHMCS and 462 JHMCS Helmets in a DSCA request, as part of a drive to upgrade its 71 F-15S 2-seat Strike Eagles, and buy another 84 even more advanced F-15SA Strike Eagles. Read “A 2010 Saudi Shopping Spree” for full coverage.
Aug 3/10: Oman request. Oman submits a DSCA request for 40 Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing Systems, as part of a drive to upgrade its 12 F-16C/D fighters, and buy 18 more. Read “Oman Looks to Replace Its Jaguar Jets” for full coverage.
April 29/10: NCVD. Vision Systems International, LLC in San Jose, CA received a $22.6 million modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-10-C-0007) for 100 JHMCS 40-degree night vision cueing and display (NVCD) unit hardware and associated support equipment for the US Navy (53) and the US Air Force (47); 500 step-in visors for the Navy (359) and the Air Force (141); 25 aviation night vision (ANV-126) night vision goggles test set adapter kits for the Navy; and associated engineering services for the Navy and Air Force. This contract combines purchases for the Navy ($12.3 million; 54%) and the Air Force ($10.3 million; 46%).
Work will be performed in San Jose, CA, and is expected to be complete in January 2012. The Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, MD manages the contract.
March 19/10: FRP-6. A $14.4 million contract which will provide JHMCS full rate production systems for the US Air Force, US Navy and Foreign Military Sales for Belgium. Belgium flies F-16A/B MLU fighters, which were upgraded part-way through their service life. At this time, all funds have been committed (F33657-01-D-0026).
Feb 08/10: A FedBizOpps solicitation pinpoints a JHMCS component supplier:
“This requirement is for the purchase of 7 each cable assemblies applicable to the F-15C/D/E Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System. NSN 6150-01-504-5576FX P/N 178-6384-2. Note 22 applies. The proposed contract action is for supplies or services for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source, Teledyne Reynolds (CAGE 99747), under authority of FAR 6.302.”
Dec 16/09: FRP-6. Boeing in St. Louis, MO received a $39.7 million contract which will provide 85 JHMCS systems under Full Rate Production Lot 6 for the USAF’s F-15s and F-16s, the US Navy’s F/A-18 platforms, and Foreign Military Sales countries, later discovered to include Belgium (vid. March 19/10). At this time, the entire amount has been committed (F33657-01-D-0026).
If Lot 6 seems smaller than other lots, that’s no accident. Lot 5 got pumped up via a Lot 5+ supplemental buy, in order to buy in quantity and lower prices. VSI expects more orders to follow, whether in 2010 or later. See also Boeing release.
FRP-6 order
Oct 26/09: NCVD. Vision Systems International, LLC in San Jose, CA received a $6.8 million firm-fixed-price contract for 20 US Navy JHMCS 40-degree night vision cueing and display (NVCD) units, including hardware and associated support equipment. The NVCD units will give pilots JHMCS symbology in their night vision goggles (2 or 4-tube options), offering a lower weight display option that nonetheless depends on a JHMCS helmet to make it work. The US Navy has chosen the 40 x 40 degree field of view 2-tube option at the moment, rather than the 100 x 40 degree QuadEye.
This initial contract is mostly about getting support items in place, and other preparation for a new program. NVCD is a separate contract from JHMCS, and production has just started. If customers like the US Navy, USAF, et. al. want these upgrades, they will place additional contracts, and this order will become the thin edge of a much larger wedge.
Work will be performed in San Jose, CA and is expected to be complete in April 2011. Contract funds in the amount of $4.6 million will expire at the end of the current fiscal year, on Sept 30/10. This contract was not competitively procured by the Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, MD (N00019-10-C-0007).
FY 2008 – 2009
Orders- USA, Australia, Belgium, Turkey; Requests – Finland, Morocco; JHMCS comes to the rear seat; Don’t forget those neck exercises!
JHMCS
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Sept 30/09: Vision Systems International of San Jose, CA received a $7 million contract for the repair of A/A24A-56 joint helmet mounted cueing systems, 24 repair contract line items, and one contract line item for data. At this time, no money has been obligated; orders will be issued as needed. The WR-ALC/PKHCB at Robins AFB, GA manages the contract (FA8522-09-D-0012)
July 20/09: Vision Systems International, LLC in San Jose, CA received a $17.3 million indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract to provide Fast Characterization Tool (FACT) hardware, integration, and validation and software upgrades for the F/A-18 JHMCS systems used by the U.S. Navy ($11 million, 58%) and the Governments of Australia ($2.8 million, 15%), Canada ($1.2 million, 9%), Finland ($1.2 million, 9%), and Switzerland ($1.2 million, 9%).
Work will be performed in San Jose, CA and is expected to be complete in October 2014. Contract funds in the amount of $8 million will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured by the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division in Lakehurst, NJ (N68335-09-D-0106).
April 29/09: FRP-5. VSI announces “several new contracts with a total value of more than $120 million,” as Boeing awards VSI a contract for more than 550 more JHMCS systems under Production Lot 5. VSI also received direct contracts from the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force for spares and Ground Support Equipment (GSE) in support of the JHMCS program.
Under the production contract, VSI will provide JHMCS hardware, including spares, technical support and GSE for the Full Rate Production – Lot 5 (FRP-5) acquisition. This procurement fills U.S. government domestic requirements, and foreign orders from Australia, Belgium, Turkey, and “other countries.” Deliveries under FRP-5 will commence in 2009, and continue through 2010.
FRP-5 order
Sept 9/08: Finland request. The US DSCA announces Finland’s official request for the 3rd phase of the Mid-Life Upgrade Program for its 63 F/A-18C/D Hornet fighters. The request includes 1 Lot of JHMCS Spares, and 70 JHMCS Laser Helmet Shields – presumably a protective addition, as Finland is already a JHMCS customer.
See “Finland Requests 3rd Upgrade Phase for its F-18s” for more.
Aug 2/08: Elbit Systems announces that VSI has received a $17 million contract from Boeing to supply helmets and visors. The Reuters report cites “145 F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet pilots,” but each F-15E has 2 pilots.
It is possible that the deal is for 145 aircraft per the Globes Israel report, which would be 280 pilots. In any event, the contract definitely includes the new dual-seat capable JHMCS hardware and pilot equipment. Initial deliveries have already commenced and will continue through mid-2009. Reuters UK | Globes Israel.
July 8/08: Neck exercises needed. StrategyPage reports that an investigation concluded that the crash of a U.S. F-16, during a March 2007 air combat training exercise, was due to the pilot blacking out from the high g-forces generated by tight turns.
Since a 4.3 pound JHMCS feels like 30.1 pounds at 7g, vs. about half that weight for a regular helmet, the growing use of helmet mounted sight systems is seen as a contributing factor to these kinds of accidents. In response, the publication reports that the USAF has introduced a new neck muscle exercise machine in some air force gyms.
May 12/08: Small business qualifier Vision Systems International in San Jose, CA received a $6.2 million firm-fixed-price, definitive-contract. They will set up of a JHMCS repair depot at Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Crane that allows in-house repair of failed Display Units.
Work will be performed in Crane, IN and is expected to be complete by April 2013. This contract was not competitively procured, though a solicitation was posted on Federal Business Opportunities website and the NSWC Crane website. NSWC Crane in Crane, IN received only 1 offer (N00164-08-C-JQ41).
Feb 29/08: FRP-4. Boeing received a contract for $23.9 million for JHMCS Full Rate Production lot four (FRP 4) for USAF F-15E Strike Eagles. At this time $25 million has been committed (F33657-01-D-0026, Delivery Order 006604).
A March 24/08 Boeing release refers to a $49.5 million U.S. Air Force contract to integrate the Joint Helmet-Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) into 145 F-15E aircraft, including hardware and installation services on the aircraft, as well as initial pilot equipment, such as helmets and visors. Installation in the first F-15E is expected in October 2008, with contract completion in December 2010.
Feb 7/08: Vision Systems International of San Jose, CA received a firm fixed-price contract modification for $9 million for JHMCS equipment. At this time all funds have been obligated. The 752nd CBSSS/GBKAB at Robins Air Force Base, GA issued the contract (FA8522-08-C-0003).
Dec 19/07: Morocco. The US DSCA announces Morocco’s formal request for 24 F-16C/D Block 50/52 aircraft as well as associated equipment and services. 6 JHMCS helmets are included.
Oct 9/07: Rear crew JHMCS. Boeing delivers the first factory-installed, dual-cockpit F/A-18F Super Hornet JHMCS to the U.S. Navy. The 2-seat variant places a JHMCS helmet on both crew members, giving each the capability to aim weapons and sensors, as well as a visual indication of where each crew member is looking. The inclusion of JHMCS in the aft seat of 2-seat aircraft gives the weapons system officer the same weapons management capabilities as the pilot, vastly reducing the amount of required verbal discussion and improving the ability to react rapidly to targets and/or threats. Phil King, Boeing JHMCS program manager, said that: “The extension of the JHMCS capability into the aft cockpits of F/A-18 Hornets and Super Hornets has been eagerly awaited for several years.”
Boeing delivered the enhanced aircraft to the VX-9 Vampires of Naval Air Weapons Station, China Lake, CA, and is scheduled to deliver 77 of the two-seat JHMCS-equipped aircraft to the U.S. Navy over the next 3 years. As of this date, Boeing’s release says that it has contracted for more than 2,500 systems since 2000 from Vision Systems International, based in San Jose, CA.
Rear crew, too
FY 2006 – 2007
Orders – USA, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Greece, Netherlands, Pakistan, Poland, Switzerland; Requests – Australia, Finland, Pakistan, Switzerland, Turkey; R&D for rear crew JHMCS; 1,000th JHMCS shipped.
Adjusting
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Sept 12/07: FRP-4. A contract for $16.1 million, covering Full Rate Production 4 (FRP4) F-15E Strike Eagle retrofit kits and Group B Hardware for the F-15E Strike Eagle. At this time, all funds have been obligated (F33657-01-D-0026, Delivery Order 0066).
April 4/07: FRP-4. A $68.8 million indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity, firm-fixed-price contract for Full Rate Production Lot 4 (FRP 4) of 321 JHMCS systems. The systems will be used on USAF F-15s and F-16s, MACH Brooks, the USN’s F/A-18 platforms, and foreign military sales to Poland (F-16s), Belgium (F-16s), Pakistan (F-16s), Greece (F-16s), Royal Australian Air Force (F/A-18s), Switzerland (F/A-18s), and Canada (F/A-18s). At this time, total funds have been obligated. Work will be complete December 2009 (F33657-01-D-0026/Delivery Order 0058).
Boeing release. See also Rockwell Collins Oct 23/07 release, announcing the sub-contract award from Boeing. Drew Brugal, president of VSI, says that: “With the addition of Belgium and other air forces, VSI now has a total of 19 customers for JHMCS.”
FRP-4 order
Feb 3/07: “New helmet gives pilots the edge” describes the JHMCS’ induction at Eiselson AFB, Alaska with the 18th Fighter Squadron (F-16s):
“The upgrade, which runs at around $1,000 per helmet, also holsters a camera and a projector that assist pilots with air operations. The camera is embedded in the helmet and sits over the left eye, allowing American servicemembers on the ground to see exactly what the pilot sees, said Staff Sgt. Jeremy Burton, an 18th FS aircrew life support technician. The projector at the top of the helmet displays information on the inside of the visor over the right eye… Another feature that will soon be implemented in these new helmets is the capability to employ high off-bore sight with air-to-air missiles, said the captain, who has four years experience flying F-16s.”
DID presumes that this means the induction of new AIM-9X Sidewinder missile to the squadron, rather than a new capability for the helmet.
Jan 3/07: Hill AFB’s “Life support section works to keep pilots safe” describes a successful program that helped the USAF improve training for the fitters and technicians who work on gear like JHMCS. As part of the successful effort described, Senior Airman Mark Fredrickson, 4 FS life support technician, spent 2 months developing a guide for the Joint Helmet Mounting Cuing System that is fitted to F-16 CCIP (Common Configuration Implementation Program) jets. “The guide is like a ‘JHMCS for dummies. It is an easy way to teach the technicians how to perform the new duties with the new helmets.”
Airman Fredrickson also explained this program was taken back with the inspectors to be implemented for other Air Force bases in USAF Air Combat Command.
“The reactions of the inspectors were very positive,” said Sergeant Freeman. “They were surprised at the vast improvements in the program over the past six months. Two of the three inspectors have been to the 388 FW in the past year and were very pleased at the improvements in the equipment, morale and the program in general.”
Sept 29/06: Vision Systems International, San Jose, CA receives a $10 million firm-fixed-price contract for replenishment spare parts and organic depot stand-up equipment applicable to the Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS). “Specific components and pricing are set forth by attachment hereto.” At this time, total funds have been obligated. The Headquarters 542nd Combat Sustainment Wing at Robins Air Force Base, GA issued the contract. (FA8522-06-C-0029)
Sept 28/06: Turkey request. Turkey requests 36 JHMCS to go with its proposed $1.8 billion order for 30 new F-16C/D aircraft. See: “Turkey Orders 30 F-16C Block 50s et. al. for $2.9B”
Sept 28/06: Teledyne Wireless Inc., Rancho Cordova, CA is being awarded a $370 million firm-fixed-price, time and materials and cost-reimbursable without fee contract. This action provides for spare (nine items), remanufacture/ modernization/ repairs (57 output items), associated Engineering Services, and Logistics Sustainment/Modification Services and Data which are sole source to Teledyne within the authority of the approved SAF/AQ Class J&A #06-JA-013 (11 July 2006).
The Class J&A covered supplies and services supporting Communications and Electronics items for the ALQ-131, ALQ-161, ALQ-135, ALQ-172 and the Joint Helmet Mounted Cuing Systems. At this time, no funds have been obligated. This work will be complete October 2017. The Headquarters Warner Robins Air Logistics Center at Robins Air Force Base, GA issued the contract (FA8536-06-D-0002).
June 28/06: Pakistan request. Pakistan requests 36 JHMCS as part of a $3 billion, 36-plane order for F-16 C/D aircraft, plus up to 60 more as part of an F-16 mid-life upgrade kit deal for their existing fleet worth another $1.3 billion. See: “$5.1B Proposed in Sales, Upgrades, Weapons for Pakistan’s F-16s”
June 16/06: An $8.2 million cost-plus-fixed-fee and firm-fixed-price contract modification, finalizing the JHMCS’ CPU/IO (Computer Processing Unit, Input/Output) Obsolescence Redesign Alternate Display Implementation, as placed on delivery order modification F33657-01-D-0026-003505. This acquisition benefits the F-15, F-16, and F-18 Platforms.
This contract action also incorporates an additional 14 each, fight test modules. At this time, $600,000 has been obligated. Solicitations began September 2005, and negotiations were complete May 2006 (F33657-01-D-0026/003513)
June 2-7/06: Finland. First flights of the JHMCS system take place in Finnish F/A-18C/D Hornets. Finland operates 63 Hornet fighters. The delivery brings the number of international JHMCS customers to 10, and first flights in Canadian F/A-18s are scheduled for September 2006. Source.
May 30/06: Switzerland. The first flight of a JHMCS system in a Swiss Hornet (F/A-18C) takes place. Switzerland operates 35 F/A-18 C/D Hornet fighters. Source.
May 23/06: Australia. The first fleet aircraft delivery of JHMCS to the Royal Australian Air Force occurs in Williamtown, New South Wales, Australia. Boeing Australia and the Hornet Industry Coalition (a collaborative arrangement between Boeing, BAE Systems and L-3 Communications of Canada) will equip 71 Australian F/A-18s with JHMCS by 2008. Boeing release.
Feb 17/06: FRP-3. A $97 million indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity, firm-fixed-price contract for “more than 400″ JHMCS systems as Full Rate Production Lot 3. They will equip the USAF’s F-15s and F-16s, the US Navy’s F/A-18 platforms, and foreign military sales including the Netherlands (F-16), Poland (F-16), Turkey (F-16C), the Royal Australian Air Force (F/A-18 C-D under HUG), Canada (F/A-18 A-B+), and Switzerland (F/A-18 C-D). Work will be complete by December 2008 (F33657-01-D-0026).
See also Boeing release | VSI’s related May 17/06 release, which gives a value of “over $80 million” and adds that “VSI also received direct contracts from the United States Navy and Air Force for spares and test equipment in support of the JHMCS program.”
FRP-3 order
Jan 18/06: Canada. Boeing announces a C$ 39 million contract from Canada’s Department of National Defence for installation of the 2nd and final phase the CF-18 Modernization Project. The upgrade will add JHMCS, a Link 16 system, new cockpit displays and a new flare-dispensing electronic warfare system to 78 CF-18 Hornet fighter aircraft. Two additional aircraft will be modified for the essential validation and verification of the planned upgrade, bringing the total to 80.
For full details re: the upgrade, its other subcontracts to L-3, et. al., see “Boeing Wins $39M for Phase 2 Upgrade of 80 CF-18 Fighters”
Canada
Nov 03/05: Rear crew, too. Boeing announces that tests have begun at Naval Air Warfare Center China Lake, CA as part of the Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) integration into the aft cockpits of the U.S. Navy’s F/A-18F Super Hornet. The testing marks the first time both the pilot and weapon systems officer have used the helmet in an F/A-18F during flight. Flight testing of the helmet in the aft cockpit of the 2-seat F/A-18D Hornet began in January 2005 (see Jan 31/05 entry).
This flight test coincides with the Navy awarding Boeing a $4.4 million addition to the current F/A-18E/F Super Hornet multi-year contract to provide aft-cockpit helmets in F/A-18F and EA-18G aircraft, scheduled for delivery beginning in October 2007 (q.v. Oct 9/07 entry, above). F/A-18F aircraft to be used for validation and verification testing will be retrofit with the aft-cockpit capability beginning in late summer 2006.
Nov 2/05: #1,000. Vision Systems International, LLC (VSI) announces that they have delivered the 1,000th Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS), 2 years ahead of schedule.
1,000 delivered
Oct 31/05: FRP-2. Vision Systems International, LLC announces several new contracts with a total value of more than $100 million: a request from Boeing for more than 500 additional JHMCS systems under Full Rate Production Lot 2 (FRP-2, see June 3/05 entry), and direct contracts from the United States Navy and Air Force for spares and test equipment in support of the JHMCS program.
FRP-2 order
Oct 25/05: Greece request. Greece requests 42 more JHMCS helmets for its F-16 C/D fleet, as part of a larger $3.1 billion DSCA request. See: “Greek F-16 & Weapons Sale Taking Off”
FY 2004 – 2005
Orders – Australia, Finland, Greece, Oman, Poland, Switzerland; Requests – Turkey and others; JHMCS into Full Rate Production; R&D into NVCD night vision option; JHMCS for simulators.
HAF Maj. Mikos
“Mach”
Machalias
Sept 22/05: Boeing in St. Louis, MO has received a $7.6 million firm fixed price contract modification to redesign the electronic unit central processor unit input/output for use on the Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) for F-15, F-16, and F/A-18 platforms. This action definitizes Phase 1a and 1b ($3,773,900 not-to-exceed) and incorporates Phase 2.
For this modification, the Central Processing Unit & Input-Output (CPU/IO) Module within the JHMCS Electronics Unit (EU) is being redesigned to eliminate obsolete parts. Boeing will be able to produce the current system’s EU (with current CPU/IO Module) for another 2.5 years. After that, they will need to have a new EU design and qualification for the JHMCS system.
Solicitation began in January 2005, negotiations were complete in September 2005, and work will be complete by December 2006 (F33657-01-D-0026/P003506). Foreign military sales countries will also benefit from this effort.
Sept 7/05: NVCD. The first dual-seat flight of their Night Vision Cueing and Display (NVCD) was completed earlier this month in a demonstration at the Naval Air Warfare Center, China Lake, CA. For this demonstration, an F/A-18F Super Hornet was equipped with JHMCS in both cockpits, and the pilot’s and weapons systems officer’s independent lines of sight were integrated into the aircraft weapons and sensors. VSI’s release adds that:
“The JHMCS with the NVCD modules allowed both pilots an unprecedented wide field of view night visual scene and the ability to cue the Super Hornet’s weapons/sensors via the JHMCS interface… The NVCD capability allows both crew members to independently and simultaneously survey the battlefield, designate ground or airborne targets of opportunity and exchange information during historically high work-load night operations. This is made possible through the automatic transfer of data to the aircraft’s forward-looking infrared (FLIR) pod.”
July 27/05: NVCD. VSI announces that its Night Vision Cueing and Display (NVCD, see May 3/05 entry) has made a successful first flight on board an F/A-18F Super Hornet.
“The mission profile included two sorties of an F/A-18 two-ship formation. As part of the familiarization process, the pilots performed various air-to-ground, air-to-air, low level and formation maneuvers. The system provides added cueing and display capabilities and an expanded 100-degree field of view over the current 40-degree NVGs. Additional flights are scheduled to take place over the next few months.”
June 3/05: FRP-2. An $81.9 million contract modification to provide 401 JHMCS systems under Full Rate Production, Lot 2. These systems will be produced for the USAF F-15 and F-16, the Navy F/A-18 platforms, and Oman (F-16 E/F), Poland (F-16 C/D), Australia (F/A-18 A/B+), Finland (F/A-18 C/D), and Switzerland (F/A-18 C/D).
“The following period of FY 2005, FY06 and FY07, Matrix Prices were negotiated and will be placed on the contract via medication. Total funds have been obligated. This work will be complete December 2007″ (F33657-01-D-0026, 0028). See also Boeing release.
FRP-1 order
May 3/05: NVCD. VSI announces a $3.3 million contract from the U.S. Navy for the development of the Night Vision Cueing and Display system (NVCD). VSI says that ” The history of U.S. Naval Air operations in recent theaters of conflict has demonstrated that a majority of naval air combat missions were, and continue to be, night missions.” The NVCD is based on a proprietary Night Vision system known as QuadEye; it provides the much needed JHMCS capability at night by leveraging existing technology, without modification to the aircraft’s installed JHMCS hardware.
The goal is to provide war fighters with image-intensified night vision, integrated with standard HMD symbology and Line of Sight (LOS). Projected information includes weapons status and aiming, target cueing and aircraft state parameters embedded in the night vision scene. VSI’s NVCD QuadEye is fully a lightweight, well-balanced, modular package that provides a 40- by 40-degree night field-of-view (FOV) in standard configuration, or optionally can be easily expanded to 100- by 40-degree FOV. As JHMCS is a modular “day” system, the current Display Unit can be quickly exchanged with NVCD’s QuadEye Night Vision Display Unit to support round-the-clock missions.
April 26/05: Turkey request. Turkey requests an indeterminate number of JHMCS systems as part of $1.1-billion Letter of Acceptance for the modernization of 117 Turkish Air Force F-16s to a common avionics configuration. See “$1.1B to Upgrade Turk