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FinancePentagon awards $333 mln contract to Rockwell Collins for fighter pilot helmet targeting system spares
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The U.S. Defense Logistics Agency has awarded Rockwell Collins ESA Vision Systems an estimated $333 million contract to supply spare parts and repair services for the Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS), a fighter pilot helmet that functions as a targeting computer. The six-year contract, running through July 23, 2032, covers F-15, F-16, and F-18 aircraft for the U.S. Air Force, Navy, and 13 allied nations including Greece, Morocco, Singapore, and Australia. The system allows pilots to lock missiles onto targets simply by looking at them, enabling high off-boresight targeting. The contract was awarded as a sole-source acquisition, citing the company's unique position as the sole provider of JHMCS hardware. Work will be performed in Texas, Oregon, and Israel, with funding from fiscal years 2026 through 2032.
Source report
The U.S. Defense Logistics Agency has awarded Rockwell Collins ESA Vision Systems an estimated $332,623,964 contract for spare parts and repair services supporting the Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS).
Contract Details
- Contract Value: Approximately $333 million
- Duration: Six-year base period with a six-month option, running through July 23, 2032
- Award Type: Sole-source acquisition, citing federal rules permitting non-competitive awards when only one supplier can reasonably provide the parts
- Contracting Office: Defense Logistics Agency Weapon Support office, Warner Robins, Georgia
Aircraft and Services Covered
The contract covers consumable spares (parts used up during routine maintenance) and depot-level reparable spares (components sent back for repair rather than replacement) for JHMCS units on:
- F-15 Eagle
- F-16 Fighting Falcon
- F/A-18 Hornet
Customer Base
The contract serves the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, and 13 allied nations through Foreign Military Sales:
- Greece
- Morocco
- Singapore
- Chile
- Denmark
- Norway
- Thailand
- Oman
- Taiwan
- Portugal
- Canada
- Switzerland
- Australia
About the Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System
JHMCS is a fighter pilot's helmet that functions as a targeting computer. The system:
- Tracks exactly where a pilot's head is pointed
- Projects targeting information directly onto the visor
- Allows pilots to lock missiles onto enemy aircraft by looking at them, without pointing the aircraft's nose at the threat
When paired with the AIM-9X Sidewinder missile, this capability enables high off-boresight targeting—engaging targets in a cone extending more than 80 degrees to either side of the aircraft's nose. This technique has provided a battlefield advantage in close-in dogfights for over two decades.
About Rockwell Collins ESA Vision Systems
The company is a joint venture between:
- Collins Aerospace (the aerospace and defense electronics arm of RTX)
- Elbit Systems of America (the U.S. subsidiary of Israeli defense technology firm Elbit Systems)
The partnership has built and supported JHMCS since 1996, delivering thousands of helmet displays to more than 20 air forces worldwide. The venture also serves as the current provider for the F-35's advanced helmet display system.
Work Locations
Work will be performed at sites in:
- Texas
- Oregon
- Israel
Funding
Funding flows from fiscal year 2026 through fiscal year 2032, sourced from:
- Defense working capital funds
- Military service funds
- Foreign Military Sales funds
The contract announcement does not specify how many individual helmet units or repair jobs the $332.6 million ceiling is expected to cover over its six-year span.
Source
The Defence Blog – Military and Defense NewsWestern
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Pentagon awards $333 million contract for fighter pilot helmet targeting system spares and repairs