Groundbreaking technology provides fighter pilots with cueing and display capabilities in their night operations:
Elbit Systems Performed Successful Flight Demonstrations of its Digital Eye Piece Night Display DEP is a unique add-on solution that transforms existing HMDs and NVGs into highly advanced, cutting-edge night vision smart helmets Elbit Systems, in collaboration with several European countries currently flying the Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) on their operational aircraft, performed a series of successful night flight demonstrations with the Digital Eye Piece (DEP), a lightweight night vision cueing and display solution for JHMCS, Digital JHMCS (D-JHMCS), and JHMCS-II helmet mounted display (HMD) systems.
This unique add-on solution transforms existing HMDs and Night Vision Goggles (NVGs) into highly advanced, cutting-edge night vision smart helmets, providing pilots with daytime cueing and display capabilities in their night operations. Its seamless integration requires no changes to aircraft installation or software. The DEP is a simple and cost-effective plug-and-play solution that enables pilots to transition from day to night configuration, improves situational awareness and meets the operational needs of military aviators.
DEP can be installed onboard any fielded JHMCS, D-JHMCS or JHMCS-II. The goal of the flights was to demonstrate the system’s performance in night flight, including A/A and A/G scenarios, in which effective flight missions generally cannot be executed. A variety of international Air Forces participated in flights onboard their F-16 aircraft. Feedback was very positive and the pilots emphasized the contribution of the system to night flight safety and effectiveness. Pilot feedback included: “the DEP improves situational awareness and reduces workload”… “the system improves night identification capabilities”… “the DEP provides more flexibility and better situational awareness for close air support”.
The DEP was developed in cooperation with Elbit Systems’ subsidiary, Elbit Systems of America, and Rockwell Collins through their joint venture, RCEVS. Since introducing the JHMCS 20 years ago, Elbit Systems has been providing aviators with proven day cueing technology.