Thales has been contracted to deliver Scorpion helmet mounted cueing systems (HMCS) to the Spanish Ministry of Defence.
The Spanish Air Force’s EF-18 fighter jet fleet will be equipped with 80 HMCS during the course of 2016 and 2017.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
Installation will begin after the completion of the operational qualification phase and air-to-air (A2A) and air-to-ground (A2G) tests.
Scorpion is the first helmet mounted display that features colour symbology and video imaging for both daytime and night-time missions.
According to Thales, it is fully interchangeable between helmets / pilots as it is installed directly over standard helmets, allowing the total amount of equipment necessary for the fleet to be reduced, thus favouring maintenance and reducing life-cycle costs.
Thales avionics executive vice-president Gil Michielin said: "This new contract will not only strengthen the relationship with the Spanish Ministry of Defence but it will also allow the Spanish Air Force to reinforce its capacities.
US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?
Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.
By GlobalData"With Scorpion, Thales provides an innovative solution designed to simplify the mission for pilots and one that can be adapted to an extensive range of platforms."
The HMCS uses the hybrid optical based inertial tracking (HObIT) technology, the hybrid reference system that warrants high-precision with minimum cabin intrusion.
Thales will be responsible for the viability study, testing phase, integration with test aircraft, qualification support and integration in the fleet.
Additionally, the company will take responsibility for the development and production of the specific configuration for the air force’s EF-18.
Thales’ HMCS is already operational in multiple platforms across the US such as the F16 Block 30/32 and the A10 Thunderbolt II and has been flight tested on the F-22, the NH-90 and many other platforms.
