The U.S. Military’s domain superiority in the air combat is thanks to the world’s most advanced combat aircraft and a robust training program. Air Force pilots undergo a rigorous program of simulations and training flights to prepare for any combat scenario. Before strapping into a combat aircraft, pilots train in military trainer aircraft. These turboprop aircraft not only familiarize pilots with combat readiness, but also to the information they receive via the cockpit display.
Because of the complexity of high-speed, hyper-agile combat aircraft, cockpit displays for fighter jets have performance requirements that greatly exceed the capabilities of commercial and general aviation aircraft. Because of jets’ bubble canopies, full sunlight readability and night vision compatibility are mandatory. The drive electronics must also achieve a minimum 40:000:1 dimming range and an ultra-high reliability standard under extreme environmental conditions. In addition to those requirements, here are just some of the necessities for a typical fighter jet’s display:
- 20 in. x 8 in. display area
- Dual 1280 px x 1024 px windows
- 84 Hz update rate
- At least 300 fL sustained day luminance
- At least 0.01 fL night luminance with electro-optical emissions compatible with digital and analog helmet/cockpit-mounted cameras
Combat cockpit displays also need advanced touch screens that are compatible with pilots’ flight-gloved hands. They require less weight, lower power consumption and heat transfer, and stronger structural housing. Unfortunately, many of these capabilities are unavailable in mass-producible commercial display products.
When the manufacturers behind this training aircraft needed an upgraded display to better prepare pilots for combat scenarios, the engineers at Intellisense Systems successfully developed the Large Area Display 20 x 8 (LAD-2008). This advanced cockpit display features a fully redundant 20 x 8 in. active area LCD with multi-touch screen technology. This display system leverages patented optical design techniques to provide outstanding brightness and contrast ratio, with no mullion and reduced reflections in high ambient conditions.
In addition to its luminance in day and night mode, the LAD-2008’s compatibility with night vision goggles (NVG) ensure greater situational awareness in all phases of flight. The night vision imaging system mode enables pilots see the display clearly with NVG. The color gamut enhancement techniques combined with unsurpassed color depth results in improved detection, recognition, and identification with sensor matching performance.
To meet the manufacturer’s needs, the bezel switch arrangement on the LAD-2008 includes 12 user defined momentary pushbuttons and two rocker switches. This configuration makes it adaptable to several combat jets. It also incorporates ARINC 818 video signal inputs and RS-422 control signal outputs. These signal interfaces connect to a digital video generation system located in a separate line replaceable unit (LRU) located in the signal path between the pod and the display.
Here is just a quick overview of the LAD-2008’s capabilities:
- 20 in. x 8 in. active display area with two independent display sides
- Zero-pixel mullion separates the display sides
- 2560 x 1024 pixel resolution with 128 pixels per inch (ppi)
- >300 fL (day mode maximum)
- ≤0.01 fL (night mode minimum)
- Dual redundant resistive multi-touch touch screen (RMTS)
- Dual Mode backlight (BL) for use during day (DAY mode) and night (NVIS mode)
- Two SMPTE-424M inputs, one DVI-D input, and two SMPTE-424M outputs
- Max power consumption of 85 W per display side (135 W with heater per display side)
With a slim bezel and a weight of just 28 lb, the LAD-2008 was the ideal form-fit replacement for the cockpit display system for a multitude of training aircraft.
This display is also compatible with other combat systems. Because commercial displays cannot withstand the rigors of combat systems, several prime contractors seek bespoke display solutions for combat and military training aircraft through competitive solicitations. Thankfully, the Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) includes a Sequential Phase 2 procurement. Through this process, businesses can leverage existing technologies and bypass traditional procurement channels, saving time and money on the lengthy solicitation process. And to reduce customer risk and cost, the LAD-2008 is qualified to MIL-STD and DO-160 environmental standards, as well as compliant with EMI/EMC standards.
Thanks to its advanced display technology and use in military training aircraft, the LAD-2008 bolsters pilots’ situational awareness and improves their flight operations. This advanced display can serve as the primary flight display for any number of aircraft, as well as stave off obsolescence for older planes, ensuring that they can remain operational for decades to come