Boeing Delivers First Joint Helmet-Mounted Cueing System to
Australia
System also Achieves First Flights in Swiss and Finnish
Hornets
ST. LOUIS, Aug. 30, 2006 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has
delivered the first Joint Helmet-Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) to
the Royal Australian Air Force, increasing the number of
international customers using the system to 10.
The JHMCS also completed first flights with the Swiss and Finnish
air forces' Boeing-built F/A-18 Hornets. First flights in Canadian
F/A-18s are scheduled for September.
"The praise U.S. Air Force and Navy pilots have for this system,
which significantly increases combat capability, is attracting the
interest of international customers," said Phil King, Boeing JHMCS
program manager. "The proven success of JHMCS in the field has
resulted in a steady increase in customer demand."
The first fleet aircraft delivery of JHMCS to the Royal Australian
Air Force occurred May 23 in Williamtown, New South Wales,
Australia. Boeing Australia and the Hornet Industry Coalition, a
collaborative arrangement between Boeing, BAE Systems and L-3
Communications of Canada, will equip 71 Australian F/A-18s with
JHMCS by 2008.
First flights took place in Swiss F/A-18Cs on May 30 and Finnish
F/A-18C/Ds on June 2 and 7. Switzerland and Finland operate 35 and
63 systems, respectively.
Pilots first used the JHMCS operationally in Operation Iraqi
Freedom. The system gives flight crew members the ability to
rapidly acquire and designate a target simply by looking at it. By
placing an aiming cross, projected on the helmet visor, over the
desired target and pressing a button, pilots can quickly and easily
aim weapons and sensors to designate and attack airborne or ground
targets. JHMCS also displays aircraft altitude, airspeed,
gravitational pull, angle of attack and tactical information on the
visor to increase crew members' situational awareness.
Since 2000, Boeing has contracted for more than 2,000 systems. The
company is the prime contractor and integrator for JHMCS. Vision
Systems International, based in San Jose, Calif., is the major
subcontractor.
Frm Boeing website
