F-16 Thales Scorpion helmet vs JHCMS

[F16VIPER]

Hi all,

The pilot in this photo is wearing the new Thales (ex-Gentex) Scorpion helmet. Any ideas as to where its capabilities sit in relation to the JHMCS and JHMCS II? As far as I understand, this helmet is part of the CUPID upgrade package.

F16VIPER

[photo]32937[/photo]

[SnakeHandler]

You can check their websites and brochures for details but the basics are that it's better than JHMCS 1 and about the same as JHMCS 2.

[basher54321]

12th May - Thales is to supply US Air National Guard F-16 Block 40/50 pilots with Scorpion HMDs to replace the Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS), under a new contract issued via the NATO Support & Procurement Agency (NSPA).

Scorpion will eventually become ‘the common HMD solution’ for the Air National Guard and USAF Reserve’s fleet of F-16 Block 30/40/50 aircraft, Thales claimed in a 10 May announcement, noting that its HMD is already worn by USAF A-10 pilots.

The NSPA contract ‘will empower NATO customer nations to equip their pilots with Scorpion’s advanced HMD technology’, Thales added.

Claimed to be the world’s first full-colour helmet-mounted display, the Scorpion provides dynamic flight and mission data into line of sight, allowing the pilot to remain head-up and eyes-out with real-time situational awareness.

According to Shephard Defence Insight, full-colour symbology allows matching to colour multifunction display schemes for lower pilot workload and higher safety.

Scorpion also uses a Hybrid Optical-based Inertial Tracker for accuracy, zero latency and jitter-free symbology.

https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/digi ... 16-pilots/

[disconnectedradical]

It seems like the active duty F-16 is following suit and also replacing the JHMCS with the Scorpion. This was announced alongside the news that Hawaii ANG F-22s will be the first to receive the Scorpion.
https://www.twz.com/air/f-22-raptor-fin ... ed-display

From what I hear, the Scorpion is quite a big upgrade over JHMCS. It’s only monocle, but also a lot lighter, full color, and much faster and more accurate inertial/optical tracking rather than magnetic.

It looks like for USAF HMDs, there’s the following

JHMCS: F-15E and EX
Scorpion: F-16 and F-22

And the F-35 has own unique HMD.

Interesting the USN looks like it’s sticking with the JHMCS.