The U.S. Air Force is bringing cutting-edge helmet display technology to its veteran fighter fleet, announcing on May 7 a contract with Thales for Scorpion Helmet Mounted Display systems for active duty F-16s. This latest procurement through the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) completes a multi-year effort to standardize advanced helmet displays across all service branches, having previously introduced the technology to Air National Guard and Reserve units.
Robertatac, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Thales Defense & Security, Inc. (TDSI), a U.S. subsidiary of the global technology leader Thales Group, received the order under an existing framework contract with NSPA. The modernization effort specifically targets active duty F-16 block 40 and 50 aircraft, representing a crucial update to the Air Force’s tactical fighter capabilities.
According to Thales officials, this procurement is just the first of several anticipated delivery orders. Initial kits are expected to be delivered to the USAF by late 2025, with additional orders likely to follow as the implementation expands across the fleet.
Notably, the contract structure also provides procurement options for NATO partner nations operating similarly configured F-16 aircraft, potentially creating standardization benefits across allied air forces.
This latest contract builds upon Thales’ previous success with the Air National Guard. In May 2022, Thales received an initial order to equip U.S. Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve F-16 pilots with Scorpion HMDs through the Aviation Program of the NATO Support & Procurement Agency. That earlier contract focused on replacing the outdated JHMCS in F-16 block 30, 40, and 50 aircraft operated by these units. With this 2025 active-duty order, the Scorpion will now become the standardized HMD solution across the entire U.S. F-16 fleet, including active duty, Guard, and Reserve components.
The Scorpion HMD kits will replace the Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) currently used by F-16 pilots. The new system offers several significant technological advantages, most prominently a modern digital platform that enhances pilot situational awareness through full-color symbology and a single display capable of both day and night operations.
“Modernization efforts around helmet-mounted displays for aircraft are essential to pilots as they provide critical real-time information directly in their line of sight, enhancing situational awareness, decision-making, and operational efficiency while reducing the need to divert attention from the aircraft’s instruments and environment,” said Jim Geraghty, Vice President of Visionix, Thales.
A significant benefit of this procurement is the standardization it creates across different components of the Air Force. The Scorpion HMD solution will now be common across active Air Force, Air National Guard, and USAF Reserve F-16 fighters, creating consistency in pilot interfaces that reduces training requirements and maintenance complexities.
This standardization aligns with broader USAF initiatives to create more uniform systems across its various platforms, potentially yielding operational efficiencies and cost savings over time.
In a parallel development, Thales Defense & Security has also been awarded a contract by the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) for F-22 Helmet Mounted Display interface development. This initiative will bring Scorpion technology to F-22 Raptor aircraft operated by National Guard units, extending the benefits of advanced helmet displays to the USAF’s premier air superiority fighter.
The Scorpion’s adaptable architecture makes it particularly well-suited for implementation across different aircraft types. “It’s highly customizable allowing each platform to maximize capabilities to its unique system architecture,” noted Geraghty. “Partnered with DIU we are proud to advance HMD Technology and assist the U.S. Air Force in achieving an advanced HMD solution for F-22 pilots.”
The expansion of this technology across multiple aircraft types—from the workhorse F-16 to the advanced F-22—also indicates a broader trend toward standardized, advanced helmet display systems throughout the Air Force inventory.
For more information, hit the Source below