Elbit Systems launches innovative helicopter vision suite.

Elbit Systems unveils an innovative technological vision suite for military helicopters (a 5th generation aircraft technology). The new suite integrates a sophisticated sensor array, an Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered mission computer and a unique Helmet Mounted Display (HMD) system. The new suite enables helicopter pilots to see through the body of the aircraft and provides them with a real-time, clear, colored wide field of view, day and night, in challenging weather and visibility conditions.

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Elbit X-Sight new Helmet Mounted Display for Helicopter Pilots (Picture source: Elbit Systems)

These capabilities address one of the toughest operational challenges of military helicopters – conducting low-altitude flights during degraded visibility conditions, significantly expanding the operational envelope of military helicopters, and transforming extreme weather and other degraded visibility conditions into an operational advantage.

The new technological suite is comprised of: the recently introduced X-Sight HMD system for helicopters; a new AI-powered mission computer for real-time data fusion and machine learning of obstacles and threats as well as for running operational applications; and an integrated array of sensor systems combining the innovative Xplore radar together with the operational BrightNite multi-spectral payload (that includes both day and Infra-Red cameras for thermal vision). The innovative Xplore is a compact sophisticated airborne radar that can be installed onboard any aircraft enabling flight during all visibility conditions. The radar generates a synthetic picture of flight route terrain, providing advanced warning of obstacles, such as power lines and antennas, enabling low-altitude flight even in zero visibility.

Power lines- Elbit 5th Gen vision suite – helicopter pilot X-Sight HMD POV of fused Xplore and BrightNite feeds (Picture source: Elbit Systems)

Installed on the helicopter’s nose the integrated sensor array (BrightNite and the Xplore radar) provides a wide-angle view of the flight path. The AI-powered mission computer fuses the sensors’ information together with preinstalled maps, flight and mission data, presenting on the visor of the X-Sight HMD a real-time color picture that includes an Augmented Reality overlay indicating obstacles, threats, the flight path and additional flight and mission information. Pilots can switch between operational applications with the touch of a button, from day flight to night flight to flight during heavy fog, landing pad analysis, obstacle mapping, collision alert and others.

Landing area – Elbit 5th Gen vision suite – helicopter pilot X-Sight HMD POV of fused Xplore and BrightNite feeds (Picture source: Elbit Systems)

The new technology provides a step-change in several aspects. It enables pilots the ability to extract and optimize the information provided by a range of different sensors (thermal, radar, laser); it exploits AI and fusion capabilities to process multiple information feeds into a single unified video picture, and it provides helicopter pilot with a binocular wide field of view HMD. The new technological suite was designed within an open architecture in full compliance with U.S. military standards for both hardware and software, offering increased flexibility for both users and partners. The technological suite enables customers and users to integrate sensors provided by different manufacturers, adopt different configurations, and develop and install additional applications on the mission computer.