Typhoon helmet cleared for operational use

Eurofighter has cleared the Helmet-Mounted Symbology System (HMSS) for its Typhoon combat aircraft and expects it to be in operational use with frontline pilots by the end of the third quarter of 2010, a company spokesperson said on 9 December.

Speaking at Eurofighter's Munich facility, Laurie Hilditch, head of Future Capabilities Capture, Joint Flight Operations, said that the HMSS is currently with the company's NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency (NETMA) customer and is going through its final paperwork clearances.

As soon as the production standard HMSS receives its final certification and clearance, the UK Royal Air Force's (RAF's) 17 (Reserve) Squadron (17 Sqn), which is responsible for the UK Typhoon's operational testing and evaluation work at RAF Coningsby, will begin testing the system around the beginning of the second quarter of 2010.

Hilditch said that, once this has been done, Eurofighter will look to establish "a centre of excellence" for the helmet, probably centred around 17 Sqn, at which all the core customers can train their pilots in its use before rolling it out among the squadrons.

"There's not much point in taking something as sophisticated as the helmet, taking it to a squadron and giving it to the boys saying: 'Play with that'. They will need to be taught how to use it," he said.

The HMSS was due to be operational at the same time as the conclusion of the Typhoon main development contract in 2008, but its development has proved to be more complicated than was originally anticipated.