HMD upgrade to benefit Army's Land Warrior

The Army will soon receive approximately 1,500 lighter weight, helmet-mounted displays (HMDs) for its Land Warrior integrated modular fighting system.

Land Warrior was first deployed to Iraq with the 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, based in Ft. Lewis, Wash. The 5th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division Stryker Brigade Combat Team is next in line to receive the system.

Land Warrior, an integrated fighting system for infantry soldiers, includes a GPS sensor, radio, HMD and a portable computer connecting team leaders to the Army's network and databases. The system will be used by infantry and combat support soldiers. The Army launched the Land Warrior program in 1994.

Rockwell Collins, a subcontractor to General Dynamics C4 Systems, will provide its ProView SO35-A system for the program. It features a full-color Super Video Graphics Array resolution with a 35-degree diagonal field of view. The system incorporates Rockwell Collins' proprietary electro-optical technology in a low power and compact package.

The monocular HMD displays various video, computer, sight, map, GPS and other data for viewing in field, urban, cave or mountain environments in daylight or night. The display includes full lumination control, as well as video switch on/off functionality, and is compatible with standard analog sensor and video inputs.