F-35 Fighter Helmet Costs $ 600,000

Fighter F-35 - the most expensive project in the history of the Pentagon. On the new-generation aircraft development took $ 300 billion . It's time to return the investment.

For example, the Australian government recently signed a contract to purchase 72 F-35 fighters with a total value of AU $ 12.4 billion. According to the Australian media, the helmets of the pilots alone cost more than 55 million, that is, up to $ 600 thousand apiece, translated into American dollars (if 72 helmets were purchased).

It is said that these helmets, as if taken from Tony Stark 's arsenal, are the most technically advanced head-mounted display that engineers have ever created.

Crammed with electronics and sensors, with a carbon fiber body and night vision device, the 2.25 kg helmet transmits real-time contextual information about the surrounding area. Turning his head, the pilot can even look “through” the skin of the aircraft. The helmet receives information from six electro-optical sensors of the Distributed Aperture System (DAS) mounted on the fighter skin.

Fitting a helmet to an individual user takes four hours (two-day procedure, divided into two hours). It is necessary that the augmented reality display (visor) is located exactly 2 millimeters from the center of the pupil. The fighter will not function if the helmet is defective, all systems are closely integrated and do not work in isolation. No spare parts. Each pilot is given exactly one copy.









The developers promise, however, that after the start of mass production of a helmet and accessories, the cost of the gadget should decrease.