The F-35 Gen III Helmet Mounted Display System, which goes with the F-35 Lightning II jet that has cost over $60 billion for development, has arrived to take the head-up display (HUD) system from the glass in front of the cockpit and integrate it right onto the helmet, according to Wired. This means that pilots can view data such as airspeed, horizon, altitude and weapons status at all times, no matter where they're looking.
"The helmet becomes part of the system of the aircraft," said Phil Jasper, executive vice president of government systems for Rockwell Collins, the company that developed the technology. "The visual effects and how information is portrayed on the visor has gone through a lot of engineering."
Perhaps the most amazing feature is the Distributed Aperture System (DAS), which streams real-time imagery from six infrared cameras that attach to the helmet, essentially allowing the pilot the see through the frame of the aircraft, Gizmodo reported.
In addition to the data mentioned above, the helmet gives the pilot the ability to utilize its tracking abilities, meaning aiming weapons will require nothing more than a glance at the target.
Each helmet is crafted using a two-day fitting process to ensure optimal measurements for features such as eye spacing and pupil alignment, according to Digital Trends.
A price has yet to be revealed for the helmet, but it seems worth the cost if it can keep pilots and aircraft safe.
