Hensoldt Teams Up with BAE to Launch the Next-Gen Striker II Pilot Helmet for the UK RAF

In a tactical partnership, HENSOLDT will collaborate with BAE Systems on a contract granted by the UK Ministry of Defence. This agreement focuses on the innovation of the Striker ® II helmet-mounted display for the Royal Air Force’s Typhoon aircraft fleet. Building on a successful history of joint efforts and the creation of Striker I, HENSOLDT South Africa will provide advanced optical sensors for the helmet and be accountable for the development of its smart tracking system.

Crafted at BAE Systems in Rochester, UK, the Striker II stands as one of the globe’s most sophisticated fighter pilot helmets, employing cutting-edge technologies to merge its all-digital nocturnal vision system with a daylight-readable colour display. At its foundation is the optical helmet tracking system ingeniously developed by HENSOLDT’s Optronics division in South Africa.

While HENSOLDT’s sophisticated optical sensors will play a pivotal role in the helmet, the company will also fabricate the system’s inertial storage driver unit (ISDU), the electronic part that imparts ‘intelligence’ to the helmet. This essential component utilizes advanced algorithms to transform data collected from the helmet’s sensors, the aircraft, navigational information, and data relating to the aircraft’s environment into comprehensible symbols displayed on the pilot’s visor. This instantaneous situational awareness equips pilots to make rapid, informed choices, enhancing their tactical edge.

This agreement marks the progression of Striker II from its predecessor, Striker I, developed by BAE Systems and reinforced by HENSOLDT in a partnership spanning over two decades. “HENSOLDT is dedicated to enhancing BAE Systems’ initiatives to ensure that the Striker’s functionalities remain at the pinnacle of innovation,” states Deon Olivier, Chief Executive of HENSOLDT’s Optronics division in South Africa.

Striker II signifies a revolutionary shift as a fully digital solution, providing contemporary combat pilots with unmatched night vision and target acquisition functionalities within a flawlessly integrated visor-projected helmet system. Striker II metamorphoses the pilot’s helmet visor into an augmented reality interface, superimposing mission-critical data onto the actual environment. HENSOLDT’s innovative helmet tracking technology accurately pinpoints the pilot’s focus, streamlining tasks such as real-time data visualization on the helmet visor. This not only amplifies situational awareness in the cockpit but also effectively addresses the imperative need to alleviate sensory overload in the advanced, dynamic atmosphere of modern aerial combat. The Striker II is set to transform situational awareness for Royal Air Force Typhoon pilots, ensuring their security in the continuously evolving and contested airspace.

With BAE Systems’ contract from the UK Ministry of Defence valued at £40 million, HENSOLDT’s participation in this initiative is anticipated to generate considerable foreign direct investment for South Africa, while simultaneously supporting a significant number of highly skilled positions at HENSOLDT’s Irene facility in South Africa, where 400 professionals are employed. Operations at this site concentrate on the design, development, and production of optical, optronic, and precision-engineered products tailored for surveillance, identification, classification, and targeting applications.