Collins Aerospace wins Navy helmet contract

CEDAR RAPIDS — The U.S. Navy has awarded Collins Aerospace and its partner a contract to develop and test a Zero-G Helmet Mounted Display System.

The system — called Zero-G HMDS — will provide an augmented view of a battle space inside the pilot's helmet to allow for faster decision-making, increasing survivability and effectiveness, the company said in a news release.

In addition, the system’s balanced and lightweight design will “significantly decrease the physiological strain pilots experience,” the news release stated.

The company also will test the system’s mounted cueing system used in F/A-18E/F and E/A-18G aircraft.

The helmet system will be developed by Collins Elbit Vision Systems, a joint venture between Collins Aerospace, an RTX business, and Elbit Systems of America, for the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division.

"The team followed a new development process that incorporated early and continuous pilot input,“ CEVS Co-General Manager Jeff Hoberg said. ”The result is an innovative and adaptable (helmet display) that will follow a long, successful line“ of innovations over the past 30 years.