SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) has recently issued an Expression of Interest (EOI) to identify a proven Helmet Mounted Display and Sight (HMDS) system that meets the operational and technical requirements for its current aircraft programs. This move represents ADA’s intent to gather essential information to finalize the technical specifications for procuring and integrating an HMDS system.
The EOI, issued on a No Cost No Commitment (NC/NC) basis, aims to engage with vendors capable of supplying and integrating a ready-to-deploy HMDS system for ADA’s aircraft programs. Importantly, the EOI does not guarantee the issuance of a future Request for Proposal (RFP) but seeks to collect information that will guide the decision-making process for this advanced technology integration.
Vendors responding to the EOI are required to submit a cost breakdown for 10 sets of HMDS systems as standard products, along with detailed proposals for integration and adaptation into ADA’s aircraft systems. The responses will undergo evaluation by a Technical Assessment Committee (TAC), and following this assessment, a limited bidding process may be initiated.
While the EOI does not ensure future procurement commitments, it signifies ADA’s focus on advancing cutting-edge technologies for its aircraft programs. The Helmet Mounted Display and Sight (HMDS) system will be crucial for enhancing pilot situational awareness, improving target acquisition, and ensuring seamless integration of night vision and symbology capabilities in combat scenarios.
Scope of the EOI
The EOI outlines several key tasks and requirements for vendors, including the following:
- Supply, aircraft adaptation, integration, and certification of the HMDS with necessary subsystems and tools.
- Hardware airworthiness qualification as per DO-254 standards.
- Software airworthiness qualification as per DO-178B standards.
- Environmental qualification as per specified standards.
- Airworthiness certification for the HMDS system.
Key Requirements for Vendors
ADA has specified several prerequisites for vendors intending to participate in the EOI process:
- The proposed HMDS system must have been flown on a fighter platform previously.
- It should demonstrate proven Line of Sight Computation results on a fighter aircraft platform.
- Vendors are expected to physically demonstrate the offered product at ADA premises, showing compliance with the EOI requirements.
- Vendors should address the requirements listed in Annexure A, providing detailed compliance or non-compliance for each item.
- The vendor must also submit company and product details as per Annexure B.
HMDS System Specifications
Vendors are expected to offer an HMDS system that meets the following technical and operational specifications:
Power On Self-Test (POST), Continuous Built-in-Test (CBIT), and Initiated Built-in-Test (IBIT) capabilities for diagnosing internal subsystem failures.
Reduced weight with low power consumption and no need for cooling for the aircraft interface unit.
Personal liner fitting, avoiding the need for molded fitment.
Integrated spatial stereo audio with active noise cancellation and a color display.
Opto-inertial tracker without requiring aircraft mapping.
Integrated Gen III Class B/C Night Vision Goggle (NVG) capabilities.
Internal/External HMDS sub-system equipped with electronics for symbology generation, following ARINC661 CDS format protocol over 1553B/TSN/Ethernet, and receiving real-time commands from the aircraft.
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