BAE Systems has delivered an Urgent Operational Requirement to the RAF that helps its Tornado pilots identify friendly forces

April 08, 2012 worldwide-defence

The equipment is a high-tech helmet system which projects information in front of the pilot’s eye allowing instant assessment of points of interest.

The technology can save vital seconds and lives in the theatre of war. The request for the fitting of a Tornado Helmet Mounted Cueing System (HMCS) onto the RAF's Tornado GR4 fleet came in April last year. Within months engineers and technicians at BAE Systems had integrated the system onto the aircraft and it is now operational on aircraft in Afghanistan. Wing Commander Kurt Hill, FAST Tornado Capability Manager said: "The Tornado HMCS capability has greatly enhanced the crew's situational awareness and resource management, enabling the rapid identification of points of interest in the homogeneous Afghan environment”. Martin Taylor, BAE Systems’ Combat Air Support Director said: “We are delighted with the positive feedback from the RAF crews who have used the HMCS on Tornado in Afghanistan. The speed at which the system was developed and deployed demonstrates our ability to respond effectively to customer requirements. Over the coming months, we will continue to work with the customer, to provide the capability across the wider Tornado fleet.”