BAE Systems has secured a $170 million follow-on contract to advance the development of the Striker II helmet-mounted display for Eurofighter Typhoon multirole warplane pilots.
The four-nation consortium of Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom behind the development of the Typhoon awarded BAE an initial $51 million contract on the pilot helmet in September 2023. BAE said that HMD flight tests are scheduled for 2025, and the new contract will pave the way for the next development stage aimed at a production-ready helmet.
Direct Helmet Data Display
According to the company, the Striker II HMD uses advanced technologies to provide pilots with instant mission-critical information through direct data display and all-digital night vision on their helmets.
That design provides the Typhoon “a crucial advantage” in battle, said Richard Hamilton, BAE Systems Air managing director for Europe and International. “This continued investment by the Eurofighter nations secures highly skilled jobs and enables our teams to further develop the helmet’s capabilities and move it another step closer to production,” he added.
In addition to the pilot helmet, BAE is working with Leonardo DRS on a $345 million contract to integrate a prototype of a Typhoon-bound radar system into a test aircraft.