Hensoldt, BAE Systems Collaborate on Striker II Helmet-Mounted Display for Royal Air Force

HENSOLDT, in collaboration with BAE Systems, has been awarded a contract by the UK Ministry of Defence to develop the Striker II helmet-mounted display for the Royal Air Force’s Typhoon fleet.

HENSOLDT South Africa will supply the advanced optic sensors for the helmet and will be responsible for the development of its intelligent tracking system.

Developed at BAE Systems in Rochester, UK, the Striker II uses the latest technologies to integrate its all-digital night vision system and daylight-readable colour display.

While HENSOLDT’s advanced optic sensors will be used in the helmet, the company will also be developing the system’s inertial storage driver unit (ISDU), the electronic component that provides the helmet’s ‘intelligence’. This integral component employs sophisticated algorithms to convert data gathered from the helmet's sensors, the aircraft, navigational data and information about the aircraft’s surroundings into intelligible symbology that is displayed on the pilot’s visor. This real-time situational awareness empowers pilots to make swift, informed decisions, elevating their tactical advantage.

Striker II offers night vision and target tracking capabilities within an integrated visor-projected helmet system. Striker II transforms the pilot's helmet visor into an augmented reality interface, overlaying mission-critical data onto the real-world environment. HENSOLDT's advanced helmet tracking technology identifies the pilot's focal point, facilitating tasks like real-time data display on the helmet visor. This not only enhances situational awareness in the cockpit, but also addresses the need to mitigate sensory overload in the high-tech, fast-paced environment of modern aerial combat.