SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) have put forth an ambitious proposal to develop a next-generation Helmet Mounted Display System (HMDS) tailored for pilots of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), India’s fifth-generation stealth fighter.
This cutting-edge initiative, currently under discussion with the Indian Air Force (IAF), aims to equip AMCA pilots with an intuitive interface that integrates vast amounts of flight, tactical, and sensor data, significantly enhancing situational awareness, precision, and safety. The move signals India’s intent to leapfrog existing technologies and establish a self-reliant ecosystem for advanced avionics as the AMCA prepares to enter production in the coming decade.
Helmet Mounted Display Systems have become indispensable in modern air combat, allowing pilots to access critical information—such as targeting cues, navigation data, and threat warnings—without diverting their gaze from the battlefield. India has historically relied on foreign systems like the Elbit DASH-IV HMDS, developed by Israel’s Elbit Systems, for its indigenous fighter programs, including the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk1A and the forthcoming Tejas MkII. The DASH-IV, a proven system, projects flight and targeting data onto the pilot’s visor, enabling “look-and-shoot” capabilities with off-boresight missiles like the Python-5 and Astra.
Recognizing the need for an indigenous solution, DRDO’s Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) recently issued an Expression of Interest (EOI) to identify a suitable HMDS for the Tejas Mk1A and other aircraft programs. This effort is already underway, with plans to develop a custom HMDS for Tejas Mk1A pilots already and HAL and DRDO are now proposing a next-generation HMDS specifically for the AMCA, incorporating features tailored to the demands of fifth-generation warfare.
The proposed HMDS for AMCA pilots is envisioned as a state-of-the-art system that goes beyond current offerings, aligning with the aircraft’s stealth, supercruise, and network-centric capabilities. The system will provide seamless access to an extensive array of data—flight parameters, sensor feeds, weapon status, and tactical overlays—presented in a user-friendly format. This reduces pilot workload and enhances decision-making in high-pressure combat scenarios.
With a 30-by-40-degree FOV and full overlap, the HMDS will offer a wide, immersive view, improving spatial awareness and target acquisition. The bi-ocular setup ensures both eyes receive identical imagery, minimizing fatigue during long missions. Unlike traditional setups requiring separate night-vision goggles (NVGs), the AMCA’s HMDS will project imagery directly onto the visor for night operations. This eliminates the bulk and weight of NVGs, enhancing comfort and maintaining a consistent interface day or night.
By integrating data from the AMCA’s AESA radar, infrared search and track (IRST) systems, and datalinks with other platforms (e.g., AWACS, drones), the HMDS will deliver a 360-degree threat picture, allowing pilots to “see through” the aircraft and engage targets beyond visual range.
The system will support off-boresight missile engagements and precision-guided munitions, leveraging head-tracking technology to align weapons with the pilot’s line of sight—crucial for AMCA’s role in air superiority and deep-strike missions.
For night missions, the visor projection eliminates the need for external NVGs by integrating infrared and low-light imagery directly into the display, a feature that enhances stealth by reducing the aircraft’s external profile and weight.
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