The General Directorate of Armament (DGA for its initals in French) selected the firm Thales to supply 350 helmets with integrated sights and 400 multifunctional screens for the standard Rafale F4.
According to Thales’ press release, the DGA notified them of the order for Scorpion helmets and side digital displays to equip all Dassault Aviation-produced Rafales used by the French Air and Space Force as well as the Navy.
The weapon system, the Scorpion Helmet Sight, improves tactical situational awareness and facilitates agility and responsiveness for combat crews. Its gradual deployment on the standard Rafale F4 will constitute a decisive advantage for the success of the missions as well as for the protection of the crews.
The helmet visor offers a symbology that gathers information from the different aircraft systems allowing the pilot to fulfill his mission in difficult situations. This radically improves awareness of the tactical situation, creating continuity between the inside of the cockpit and the outside world. Together with the weapon system, it allows, in particular, to designate and track targets throughout the crew’s field of vision, day and night.
All of these capacity upgrades add to the protection and survivability features expected from a traditional flight helmet and that the Scorpion helmet fully provides. Its development has been designed to minimize the impact of weight and balance, an important concern in preserving the physical integrity of crews.
The order for 400 digital side shields (VTL) was placed to replace the side head displays of the Rafale France in service. These cockpit side displays make it possible, in particular, to display information on the status of the aircraft systems, as well as the images from the various sensors. This new equipment offers an enlarged display surface, an improved touch screen and a greater computing capacity.
Rafale F4
The F4 is the latest and most modern standard of the famous French fighter. It is currently finishing its development and a thorough testing campaign is underway.
In addition to the Scorpion helmet and screen swapping, the F4 incorporates enhancements to the radar, Spectra electronic warfare (ECM) system, and new data link capabilities for “network warfare”.
As for its armament, the new standard will integrate the new Mica-NG missile, with improved performance and the AASM heavy guided bomb, of 1000 kg.
