One of the highlights of Pakistan’s most recent biennial defence exhibition, IDEAS 2022, is the story around the JF-17’s growth as a platform. Though the JF-17 Block-3 was not present at the event, its presence was felt through the buzz surrounding its new subsystems and, potentially, weapon systems.
There were signs throughout the exhibition that the JF-17 had finally reached a key maturation stage. The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) was on the cusp of inducting it and its subsystems, such as an active electronically-scanned array (AESA) radar, integrated electronic countermeasures (ECM) suite, and, a finally-announced helmet-mounted display and sight (HMD/S) system.
Historically, the PAF would induct new technologies through a high-cost platform that it would induct in limited numbers, at least initially. However, with the JF-17 Block-3, the PAF is getting marque capabilities found on its ‘high-end’ platform (i.e., J-10CE) through a mainstay asset it can acquire in numbers.
New Helmet Mounted Display and Sight (HMD/S) for JF-17 and J-10CE
One of the long-awaited reveals was the HMD/S system of the JF-17 Block-3 and the J-10CE, i.e., PAF’s new mainstay multi-role fighter aircraft.
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The PAF had sought an HMD/S for the JF-17 since as early as the Block-II. However, the PAF was not able to find a willing supplier. In the early 2010s, the leading option was likely the Thales TopOwl-F; however, the chill in Pakistan’s defence ties with France likely closed that avenue.
Due to the limited options available on the market, the PAF had to push the HMD/S to the JF-17 Block-3.
Quwa had started learning about the PAF’s requirements for the HMD/S in 2015. For the Block-3, the PAF decided to seek a system that could project information on the vizor. This was in contrast to the monocle-based system as used in the Joint Helmet-Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) and TopOwl-F, among others.
The PAF basically wanted to emulate the quality and performance shown in the BAE Striker II. In fact, the PAF had directly requested the BAE Striker II, but it could not finalize a deal.
The eventual HMD/S of the JF-17 Block-3 is of Chinese origin. It is unclear if this HMD/S is anything similar to the BAE Striker II, especially in terms of projecting information to the vizor instead of using a monocle. However, AVIC’s HMD/S concepts dating back to 2016 suggest that the Chinese had been working on new project-on-vizor-based HMD/S. Thus, it is possible one of these projects materialized.
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