Photo Sextant

A NEW HELMET-MOUNTED SIGHT/DISPLAY FOR COMBAT AND TRAINING AIRCRAFT
By Sextant
 

With increasingly powerful weapon systems deployed in a fast-changing air combat environment, helmet-mounted sight/display systems give pilots a real tactical edge through enhanced situational awareness and combat effectiveness.

Sextant Avionique has developed a new helmet-mounted sight/display system for export markets, called Topsight® E, that satisfies all tactical requirements of modern air combat.

Topsight® E is an advanced, integrated unit, handling three primary functions: 

Display of critical information: 

visual target designation, by transmitting the target's line of sight to the nav/attack system. Used with modern missiles, Topsight® E allows pilots to perform wide off-boresight target designation; 

visual target acquisition - reverse cueing mode; the display's symbology guides the pilot's eyes to the target tracked by the aircraft sensors. The nav/attack system provides spatial datas. 

situational awareness, based on concise display of vital information: tactical, navigation, safety, etc. 

Physiological protection of the pilot (impact/penetration, windblast, acoustic, laser, fire, oxygen). 

Communications. 
 

SYSTEM DESCRIPTION

Topsight® E is a modular system, comprising: 

A modular headgear, composed of two line replaceable units: 

the basic helmet, with an accurate form fitting liner; 

a removable Day Display Module, that projects symbology on the pilot's visor for target acquisition and designation; depending on the mission, this module can be replaced by a Night Vision Module (ejection-compatible), or a Double Visor Module (for a conventional helmet use) 
 

A high-precision Cockpit Tracking Module (CTM), installed in the cockpit, that calculates the pilot's line of sight using a receiver located in the display module. 

An electronics unit in the avionics bay, including image and symbol generation functions. 
 

FLIGHT-PROVEN PERFORMANCE

Sextant Avionique has built up the skills needed to adapt its HMS/D system for integration in any type of combat and training aircraft: 

State-of-the-art technologies, developed in-house

A broad range of human factors experience

Lightweight, well-balanced headgear, with a unique modular design

Systems integration expertise.
 

Over the last 20 years, Sextant Avionique has developed the full array of expertise needed for advanced HMS/D systems, qualified in extensive flight testing programs:

Physiological protection

Head-tracking system

Optical and symbol generation

Human factors.

The first production systems were delivered in 1997, following a long series of flight tests and program developments that enabled Sextant Avionique to develop the specific technologies needed for advanced HMS/D systems: 

Operational symbology developed with French DGA and DSTO of Australia.

High-precision metal-tolerant electromagnetic head-tracking systems, flight-proven and fully qualified. 

20° monocular FOV stroke symbology on the Topsight® HMS/D developed for the new-generation Rafale multirole fighter. 

40x30° visor-projected binocular raster-stroke symbology with CCD-coupled integrated image intensifier on the Topnight® HMS/D for combat aircraft.

40° binocular FOV raster-stroke symbology with optically-coupled integrated image intensifier on the Topowl® HMS/D for the Rooivalk, Tiger and NH 90 helicopters. 

COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES

Because of the system's modular design, air forces will only have to order one helmet per pilot and one display module per aircraft, considerably reducing cost of ownership.

The Topsight® E export model allows customers to use their own oxygen masks.
Thanks to a camera integrated in the display module, Sextant's HMS/D can also provide mission restitution.

Used in today's complex and lethal combat environment, Topsight® E increases the pilot's situational awareness by displaying critical, customized information on the visor, to ensure superiority for both air-to-air and air-to-surface missions.