The US Navy has taken another step in modernizing its aviation equipment by entering into a $22.6 million contract with Gentex Corporation for the supply of more than 5,000 next-generation helmets intended for the fleet’s fixed-wing aircraft.
The new one Next-Generation Fixed Wing Helmet has been developed to replace the traditional HGU-55/P and HGU-68P models, which have been in service for decades. The concept is simple and very contemporary: lower weight, better balance and increased comfort for increasingly longer and more demanding missions — an approach that also reflects ergonomic principles we see today in the automotive industry, especially in high-performance vehicles.
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The helmet is produced with a carbon fiber shell and shifts the center of gravity to reduce the strain on the pilot’s head, neck and spine. This helps to minimize the fatigue and physical stress associated with many hours in the air at high speeds and under high G loads.
Another important highlight is the internal padding system, which is designed to keep the helmet stable even during aggressive maneuvers. In practice, this prevents equipment such as night goggles or flight data projections from moving — which is crucial during combat operations or advanced training.
With the future in mind, the project uses a modular architecture, which makes it possible to integrate new communication or display systems without having to replace the entire equipment. This is a solution that follows the technological development in cockpits, reduces costs and avoids full replacement at each update — a logic similar to modular platforms used by some car manufacturers and embedded systems.
The new helmet will be used by US Navy and Marine Corps pilots who operate aircraft such as the F/A-18 and EA-18Gwhile ensuring compatibility with future generations of avionics technology.
Source and images: Navair | Instagram @gentex_aircrew | Wikimedia. This content has been created with the help of KI and reviewed by the editors.
