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With much deserved attention being paid these days to VSI’s advancement of HMDS for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program, it’s easy to overlook the success VSI has achieved with other helmet mounted displays we have developed. Take, for example, our Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) technology and the $32 million order that Boeing recently placed with us.

This transaction marks the eighth consecutive reorder of our JHMCS technology by Boeing, one of our oldest and most loyal customers. As many of you know, JHMCS was our first combat-proven helmet, and it remains the world’s leading helmet display for fixed-wing tactical aircraft, with more than 4,500 systems produced for multiple aviation platforms, including fighters, light attack, military airlift and trainers.

Our JHMCS technology is highly respected by jet pilots around the world for its “first look, first shot” high off-bore sight weapons engagement capabilities that gives them a critical advantage in air-to-air and air-to-ground tactical missions. Boeing’s order is targeted for Foreign Military Sales (FMS) to Australia, Belgium, Canada, Finland, Pakistan and Switzerland, as well as to the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy.

Our ability to expand the capability and effectiveness of JHMCS through Night Vision Cueing Display (NVCD) technology led to another recent HMD success worthy of attention. In March, the Joint Program Office for U.S. Air Force-U.S. Navy NVCD Systems awarded us a $19.8 million LRIP contract for the delivery and engineering support of 100 systems that will be integrated into all domestic JHMCS platforms for use aboard Air Force F-15, F-16 and Navy F/A-18 aircraft. This order is an extension of a $3.8 million LRIP logistics contract awarded to VSI in September 2011.

Our NVCD technology enables the cueing of weapons and sensors at night, while providing standard JHMCS HMD data. This gives pilots the capability of maintaining situational awareness through the full range of night time tactical operations.

Looking forward, VSI is well positioned for continued success in the HMD systems market. That’s because all of our technologies—JHMCS, NVCD, F-35 HMDS, JHMCS II and StrikeEye—are designed, developed and tailor-fit for individual pilot visibility and comfort. Because many of us at VSI have served our nation from the cockpit of tactical aircraft, we know first hand the in-theater needs of pilots for enhanced situational awareness, survivability and mission effectiveness.

Have a question or a comment about our technologies, or a particular challenge that needs a solution? Write back to me. I’d love to hear from you.

Phil King
President, VSI, LLC