New technology helps pilots in combat

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Janet Haliburton
  • 5
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  Luke pilots have enhanced their war fighting skills with technology that allow them to lock onto targets with visual sensors in their helmets. 

Luke received the new helmet January 2007, called the Helmet Mounted Cueing System projects information similar to an F-16 aircraft's heads up display which is on the visor, thereby allowing aircrew to cue the weapons system to the direction the head is pointing and obtain situational awareness. 

"We took a helmet and put in a system that connects movement in the cockpit with the avionics within the jet, so where you are looking you are also steering the jet," said Maj. Jason Hokaj, 308th Fighter Squadron assistant director of operations. "Essentially we have a heads up display over our right eye." 

In close combat, what a pilot does now is align the aircraft to shoot at a target, but the HMCS capability allows the pilot to simply look at a target to shoot. This system projects visual targeting and aircraft performance information on the back of the helmet's visor. 

"As you are looking around, you are seeing some of the information that you were used to seeing only when you looked forward," Major Hokaj said. "Now you can look to the side, up or down, to see your altitude and how fast you are going." 

This new cueing system improves effectiveness in both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. HMCS "It will make things happen faster," Major Hokaj said. "You can lay your eyes on the target and your sensors rather maneuver the aircraft. I can steer my sensors by just looking around." 

The system uses a magnetic transmitter unit fixed to the pilot's seat and a magnetic field probe mounted on the helmet to define the helmet pointing positioning. 

The attachment goes on top of the helmet display unit and is attached to the helmet special visor that's reflective on the inside. 

The helmets are only used with F-16s that have been upgraded under the Common Configuration Implementation Program. The CCIP upgrades F-16s to keep them running at top performance. 

"It's amazing," Major Hokaj said. "It enhances combat capability and makes our job easier and quicker in the cockpit. It's like having a Ferrari sit on your head." 

Only instructor pilots in the 63rd FS, 308th FS and 310th FS are flying with the helmet that is specially fitted. 

The entire upgrade costs approximately $150K per helmet, said Staff Sgt. Cari Altmeyer, 308th FS aircrew flight equipment NCO in charge. 

"It took approximately four hours to fit each pilot with his helmet," Sergeant Altmeyer, said. "There was a lot of man hours put into ensuring the fit was perfect because the helmet is a very expensive and high tech piece of equipment."