Boeing

Boeing [NYSE:BA] received a $96 million contract Feb. 17 for its third full-rate production order of more than 400 Joint Helmet-Mounted Cueing Systems (JHMCS), expanding production capacity for the second consecutive year.

Under the contract, Boeing will provide the JHMCS for U.S. Air Force (USAF) and Air National Guard F-15 Eagles, USAF F-16 Fighting Falcons, U.S. Navy F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, as well as five international customers.

"U.S. Air Force and Navy pilots continue to praise this system, which significantly increases their combat capability," said Phil King, JHMCS program manager for Boeing. "The proven success of JHMCS in the field has resulted in a steady increase in customer demand."

Pilots first used the JHMCS operationally in Operation Iraqi Freedom. The system gives flight crew members the ability to rapidly acquire and designate a target simply by looking at it. By placing an aiming cross, projected on the helmet visor, over the desired target and pressing a button, the pilot can quickly and easily aim weapons and sensors to designate and attack airborne or ground targets. JHMCS also displays aircraft altitude, airspeed, gravitational pull and angle of attack on the visor, as well as tactical information, to increase the crew member's situational awareness.

Since 2000, Boeing has contracted for more than 2,000 systems. The company is the prime contractor and integrator for JHMCS. Vision System International, based in San Jose, Calif., is the major subcontractor.