Recently, Thales Optronics in The Hague has signed a contract for combined development and preproduction order consisting of 45 sets new Helmet Mount Display (HMD) relays. The relays will be used in the Typhoon fighter plane (previously known as Eurofighter). Thales Optronics has already delivered relays for other configuration helmets.
The challenges for Thales Optronics in this new contract are many: first, the space available between the helmet and pilot's head is limited. Further, the weight of the helmet must be as low as possible, while the optical performance is to be high. Finally, the price level is to remain competitive and the delivery times short. Follow-up series of several hundred items are expected in the near future.
If the Typhoon helmet turns out to be a success, orders from other jetfighter programs are possible.
Since the late eighties, Thales Optronics has been involved in the development of HMDs for jet pilots. A HMD is an optical unit integrated in the pilot's helmet that provides the pilot with information, irrespective of the direction the pilot looks in. This distinguishes the HMD from the Head Up Display, a system that presents this information only in one permanent position.