The pilots of Australia’s next generation fighter jets will have $533,000 helmets
January 14, 20171:44pm
Major General Jay Silveria, US Air Force commander, connects his oxygen mask prior to his final qualifying flight in the F-35A Lightning II Sept. Picture: US Air Force/Samuel King Jr
Matthew Dunnnews.com.au@mattydunn11
AUSTRALIA’S next generation fighter jets will not come cheap, with the Federal Government preparing to spend $A24 billion on 72 F-35 aircraft for service by 2020.
Included in this hefty price tag are 72 specially designed helmets, which will cost $A533,000 per unit.
Commander of the F-35A Lightning II Heritage Flight Team major Will “D-Rail” Andreotta said the helmets were unlike anything ever seen.
“It is the only aircraft that has ever had the helmet made in conjunction with the aircraft,” he told
Business Insider.
“We have so many systems and sensors on the aircraft, so as they were building the F-35 they basically thought about how the helmet would help.”
Weighing approximately 2kg, the helmets are fitted with a Helmet Mounted Display Systems (HMDS), which are capable of displaying a number of metrics on the visor.
So that’s what $A533,000 will get you these days. Fancy.
Source:Supplied
Mr Andreotta said by showing airspeed, targeting information, altitude and threat warnings would offer unprecedented situational awareness for pilots.
“I have six cameras around the aircraft called DAS, and with a flip of a switch I can put it to my helmet and have a full 360-degree view of what I’m seeing,” he said.
“Think of Wonder Woman’s invisible aeroplane, that’s exactly what this aircraft has the capability to do because of the HMDS,”
“If a pilot needs to he can look between his legs and see through the aeroplane. That’s how extraordinary this aircraft is.”
The F-35 program has largely been met with controversy, with the most recent coming from US President-elect Donald Trump who said the “cost is out of control”.
Defence Industry Minister
Christopher Pyne defended Australia’s choice of the jet, saying it was “the most potent weapon in the air”.
“We’re very confident that the Joint Strike Fighter is the right jet for Australia and for the United States and the rest of the world,” he said.
“Whether it has been efficiently managed from the United States’ point of view in terms of their cost and delays and so on is really a matter for them and for President-elect Trump’s opinion.”
US President-elect Donald Trump said the cost of the F-35 program is out of control. Picture: Department of Defence
Source:Supplied
This sentiment has been shared by Marine General James “Mad Dog” Mattis — Trump’s pick for US Secretary of Defence — who said the F-35 was critical for the air superiority of the US and its allies.
“It is equally important, if not more so, to some of our allies — let’s say more so because this will be the total fighter strength of their air force so to them it is an all-in sort of situation,” Mr Mattis said.
“So the F-35, the president-elect has talked about the costs of it, but he has in no way shown a lack of support for the program.
“He just wants the best bang for the buck.”
Play
0:00
/
0:00
Fullscreen
3
Trump Takes Aim at Cost of F-35 Jet Fighter