The F-35 is a fifth-generation fighter, and the helmet was designed with this in thoughts. The goal of its built-in HUD and connection to the plane is easy: Everything associated to flight and mission knowledge seems on the show. This provides the pilot a 360-degree view of the battlespace by projecting every part across the aircraft to the pilot. If they give the impression of being down at their legs, they’ll solely see the terrain beneath their plane as in the event that they’re flying Wonder Woman’s invisible jet, although that is considerably restricted.

Tech. Sgt. William Vass of the 419th Fighter Wing defined to the Air Force, “The pilot can look down through a portion of their wing and see what’s below. When they look toward the cameras embedded on the F-35 that image projects onto their helmet display.”

The function of the HDMS is to unite the pilot with their plane in methods by no means conceived of earlier than. It features a visor and bi-optical HUD with built-in evening imaginative and prescient and picture overlays. Each helmet is fitted to the pilot’s head and interpupillary distance, offering the very best imaginative and prescient interface for every pilot. The helmet is fitted so completely {that a} change in pilot coiffure requires a refitting — it is that exact.

Fitting a pilot with an HDMS is a two-day course of carried out by U.S. Air Force personnel. The becoming begins by measuring each side of a pilot’s head, together with the gap between their pupils, making certain their bi-optical HUD seems as a single picture.