Fighter pilots are testing a brand new, cooler, lightweight helmet that might allow for higher visibility when engaging enemy jets. The helmet also matches female pilots more readily.
The brand new design is known as the Next Generation Fixed Wing Helmet. Five F-22A Raptor pilots from the 301st Fighter Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida are already flying with the upgraded piece of apparatus.
“The design of the helmet allows for unparalleled visibility, mobility, and luxury within the cockpit,” Maj. Brett Gedman, from the 301st Fighter Squadron, said in a news release. “The increased visibility combined with the mobility it provides made it a large improvement over what I’m used to flying with.”
Super Helmets
The brand new helmet is supposed to interchange the Nineteen Eighties-era HGU-55/P. The upgraded design is product of carbon fiber to make it cooler, and to accommodate helmet-mounted cueing systems and night vision goggles. The helmet features a jawbone-activated light for pilots to view needed information at night when landing, or during other maneuvers.
The brand new helmet can also be lighter than its predecessor. And each ounce counts during high-gravity maneuvers, as pilots must withstand increased pressure on their necks.
Gedman said the comfort and maximum visibility provided by the brand new helmets are critical when operating in a visible range environment.
“With near-peer threats narrowing the gap every day, it’s critical the fighter pilots have every tactical advantage possible,” said Gedman. “Details matter, and it’s coming right down to the smallest details, including the gear we wear.”
The brand new helmet also offers a level of customization. Crew members can add padding contained in the helmet for more cushioning, and switch on lights that won’t overwhelm the digital display inside their visors.
A Higher Fit for Female Aviators
The Next Generation Fixed Wing Helmet was designed to higher fit the increasing variety of female pilots. A U.S. Air Force study in 2020 found that girls pilots needed smaller-sized helmets than their male counterparts.
“The legacy helmet was not originally designed to support advances in aircraft helmet-mounted display systems, causing pilots to fly with equipment not optimized for them, especially our female aircrew,” Scott Cota, an aircrew flight equipment program analyst, said within the news release.
Once the testing program is complete, the helmets are scheduled to start rolling out to aircrews next 12 months. The helmets will go to all manned aircraft communities apart from the F-35A Lightning II and helicopters, which have their very own specialized headgear.