Typhoon Heading for Success

Dubai – Typhoon’s world leading helmet, known as Head Equipment Assembly (HEA), is currently undergoing its latest development trials.

The current trials are focusing on the capability of the helmet system to display flight reference information together with various aircraft weapons and sensor data. The integration of the Night Vision Enhancement (NVE) devices is also being tested to prove their limitations and acceptability for operations.

This set of trials is part of the ongoing development work that will eventually include integrated Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) protection in addition to the NVE capability. Recent tests with pilots in a ground-based simulator wearing the full NBC flying kit have shown very promising results.

Dave Brown, head of the HEA Development team at BAE Systems said, “The latest round of development flights trials represents a significant milestone in the overall HEA development programme and the results have been very encouraging. There are still a number of challenges ahead in delivering this key element of Typhoon’s capability into frontline service but these test flights will provide key information that will enable us to continue improving the equipment with an aim of delivery into full operational service by 2009.”

The Typhoon helmet, which will provide the Typhoon pilots with a helmet which displays key mission data onto the pilot’s helmet visor, is being developed by BAE Systems staff at Rochester in Kent, UK and integrated by the BAE Systems team at Warton in Lancashire, UK.