Boeing

The Boeing Company recently received U.S. Navy approval for its Joint Helmet-Mounted Cueing System, or JHMCS, to proceed into low-rate initial production.

"This milestone signifies the success of our engineering and manufacturing development efforts and represents the transition to production," said Boeing JHMCS Program Manager Stephen Winkler. "The system has been proven effective and safe in roughly 275 flight tests, improving air-to-air and air-to-ground mission effectiveness as well as a pilot's situational awareness."

Boeing will deliver 36 low-rate initial production systems as part of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet aircraft that will be delivered in fiscal year 2002.

The lightweight JHMCS will allow pilots to cue current and next-generation weapons and sensors at aircraft and ground targets. The system also provides the pilot visual feedback on the location of the target. This capability to cue and verify weapons at high off-boresight angles greatly enhances the Super Hornet's lethality and survivablility. The pilot is also presented mission-critical information without the need to take his or her eye off the target.

In addition to the F/A-18, the Joint Helmet-Mounted Cueing System is to be deployed on the F-15, F-16 and F-22 aircraft.

Boeing is the primary integrator of the system. Vision Systems International, based in San Jose, Calif., manufactures the helmet system.

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