Eurofighter pilots will use BAE’s new all-digital helmet before the end of the year, according to an announcement by the aerospace giant at this year’s Farnborough Airshow. The Striker II, which will fly in the "third or fourth quarter of 2014", has evolved from the HMD technology currently in use Typhoon and Saab Gripen aircraft and incorporates advances initially conceived with the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II in mind.
The previous model’s clip-on night vision goggles (NVGs) have been replaced with a fully integrated digital night vision camera using a centre-mounted ISIE-11 sensor known as the Electron Bombarded Active-Pixel Sensor. Data from this is presented to the pilot via a binocular, visor-projected display.
The modular design also includes hybrid opto-inertial head-tracking technology, an outer assembly with a day/night camera attached and an oxygen mask, while a reduction in weight improves the pilot’s comfort and makes ejections safer.
