DARPA picks Rockwell Collins to develop synthetic vision for next-generation helicopters

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has selected Rockwell Collins to develop the synthetic vision avionics backbone for next generation helicopter operations under the Multi-Function Radio Frequency program.

Rockwell Collins is teamed with BAE Systems on the first two phases of the $5.1 million contract. An optional third phase would bring the contract value to $6 million.

The contract calls for Rockwell Collins to develop a 3D synthetic vision-based imagery system that will be used with multifunction radar. Rockwell Collins will fuse radar data with terrain and obstacle data to produce an integrated 3D view.

“Rockwell Collins has been an industry leader in developing synthetic vision for commercial aircraft and helicopters and now we're bringing that capability to the military rotary wing market segment,” said Dave Nieuwsma, vice president and general manager of Airborne Solutions for Rockwell Collins.

Rockwell Collins successfully flight tested the technology on a Black Hawk helicopter and will work with Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to further develop this capability, Nieuwsma said.

The Army Black Hawk synthetic vision flight tests were conducted in conjunction with a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement between Rockwell Collins and the U.S. Army's Aviation Applied Technology Directorate.