Saab Receives First Order for Head-Up Display

Saab has announced that it has received the first order for its HUD-system following flight evaluations by the US Army Aviation end customer with the system installed on a Blackhawk helicopter. The company secured the order in cooperation with the contract prime, BAE Systems for the US Army Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate (NVESD) pursuit.

Saab’s HUD (RIGS) is an advanced, light-weight integrated system, designed to improve safety during all phases of flight. It provides high resolution and advanced optical quality, giving crisp and clear flight information enabling head-up/eyes-out operations, significantly enhancing situational awareness and flight safety. As a result, the system is well suited for situations where vision is limited, for example in adverse weather conditions or while fire fighting.

Saab is developing the HUD system with the capability and integrity to ensure compatibility with current and future enhanced flight vision system (EFVS) operations. The system is designed to increase flight safety for end users including police forces, fire protection services and coastal protection agencies, and is compatible with a wide range of helicopters and small aircraft.

According to the company, the US Army will now perform further flight tests using the system on the Blackhawk as well as other helicopter platforms. The target is to increase safety while flying at low levels and during take-off and landing in degraded visual environments (DVE). 

Wes Walters, Saab North America’s executive vice president for sales and marketing, said: ‘Though relatively small in terms of order value, this first order represents a significant step for Saab. Not only with the launch of yet another new and innovative product from our company, but also that the launch is in the United States.’