Three Weeks of Testing Yielded a Thumbs-Up

Vision Systems International (begotten by Rockwell Collins and Elbit Systems in 1996) let us in on the successful international first flights of the Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS), on Danish F-16s as part of the MLU M3 Lead-the-Fleet program.

The first flights were performed by four Royal Danish Air Force (RDAF) test pilots and Operational Test and Evaluation pilots. The company said, "The flawless JHMCS performance/accuracy, as well as its integration into the F-16, performed by Lockheed Martin, were praised by the RDAF test team."

JHMCS was also flown during the MLU M3 Early Operational Assessment (EOA) at Leeuwarden Air Base, the Netherlands, as long ago as June. The Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark and Norway participated in this joint exercise to evaluate the advanced technology weapon systems added in the F-16 upgrade.

Pilots from the participating air forces were fitted with JHMCS-helmets and flew with the system throughout the evaluation. During the three week EOA, all pilots who flew with JHMCS were extremely pleased with the performance, accuracy, and robustness.

Ken Stansell, President of VSI, was pleased: "This latest operational experience further demonstrates VSI's capabilities in advanced helmet mounted cueing systems."

FMI: www.rockwellcollins.com