Striker helmet gives fighter pilots 'X-ray vision'

If he were to spot an enemy down there, or anywhere near the aircraft, he would not need to point the plane towards the target.He would simply look at it - through the solid hull of the plane - make sure that a tiny symbol displayed on his helmet's visor was aligned with the object, press a button and fire.The pilot is wearing BAE Systems' Striker HMSS helmet, the UK defense company's latest development. Putting augmented reality technology - as used in video games to military use is the latest goal for helmet makers around the world.

Striker helmet gives fighter pilots 'X-ray vision'

Cameras all around the aircraft are wirelessly linked to BAE's helmet; the system checks in which direction the pilot is looking, and then displays the exact view on the visor, in real time.Striker incorporates a helmet-mounted display (HMD), designed to help the pilot communicate with the plane.HMD is a step forward from the so-called head-up displays (HUD) - the transparent screens in front of the pilot that first appeared in the 1970s. They show key data, such as the altitude, speed and direction, allowing pilots to keep their eyes on the view ahead instead of constantly looking down to check their instruments.HUDs also display targets - but to aim, the pilot has to manoeuvre the aircraft accordingly.The military around the world started using HMDs in the 1990s; nowadays, they are becoming more and more advanced.