- Scorpion will replace the outdated Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) in the Air National Guard F-16 fleet.
- The contract, issued through the NATO Support & Procurement Agency in Luxemburg, will empower NATO customer nations to equip their pilots with Scorpion’s advanced HMD technology.
- Scorpion display brings together information from the aircraft’s onboard sensors to help pilots perform their missions even in the most challenging situations. It creates a continuum between the cockpit and the outside world to radically improve awareness of the tactical situation.
Thales has received an initial order to equip U.S. Air National Guard F-16 pilots with Scorpion Helmet Mounted Displays (HMD) as part of a deal that will make the combat-proven system available to NATO forces.
The contract will provide the Air National Guard with Scorpion retrofit kits to replace the current Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) for its fleet of F-16 block 40 and 50 aircraft.
When complete, Scorpion will become the common HMD solution for the Air National Guard and U.S. Air Force Reserve’s entire fleet of F-16 block 30, 40 and 50 aircraft. Scorpion is already the HMD of choice for the A-10 in the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve.
Scorpion offers a modern, digital platform that equips pilots with enhanced situational awareness. It features full-color symbology, zero-perceived latency and a single display for both day and night operations at reduced life-cycle costs. Motion-tracking accuracy is significantly improved over JHMCS by Scorpion’s precision Hybrid Optically-based Inertial Tracker (HObIT). The Scorpion HMD is also ejection safety certified on all F-16 configurations.
The contract, issued through the Aviation Program of the NATO Support & Procurement Agency, allows NATO countries to procure the Scorpion and all accompanying equipment needed to replace the outdated JHMCS HMD without the need for platform modifications.
“Moving their entire fleet of F-16s to Scorpion is a testament to the capability, quality, and low life-cycle costs that Scorpion provides the warfighters and the Air Guard. With Scorpion’s superior situational awareness, featuring a single display that provides color symbology and allows for the use of unmodified night vision goggles, it is unmatched in the HMD marketspace. Furthermore, we can provide the same upgrade to any customer flying a JHMCS-equipped aircraft.”
Mike Sheehan, President and CEO, Thales Defense and Security, Inc.
About Thales
Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global leader in advanced technologies, investing in digital and
“deep tech” innovations – connectivity, big data, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and quantum
technologies – to build a confident future crucial for the development of our societies. The Group
provides its customers – businesses, organizations and governments – in the defense, aeronautics,
space, transport, and digital identity and security domains with solutions, services and products
that help them fulfil their critical role, consideration for the individual being the driving force behind
all decisions.
Thales has 81,000 employees in 68 countries. In 2021, the Group generated sales of €16.2 billion.
About Thales in the USA
In the United States, Thales has conducted significant research and development, manufacturing,
and service capabilities for more than 100 years. Today, Thales is present in 22 states, operating 46
different facilities and employing nearly 4,000 people. Working closely with U.S. customers and
local partners, Thales is able to meet the most complex requirements for every operating environment.
