After an announcement by BAE Systems earlier this year of its play to develop a new, all digital HUD for the US Air Force F22 Raptor fighter jet, Raytheon has announced that they have been chosen to develop the projector for the digital light engine DLE from BAE Systems. Raytheon ELCAN Optical Technologies is developing the projector for the light engine based on their modular design that allows using it without requiring changes to current HUD optics or aircraft mechanical interfaces. This will result in lower overall cost and faster deployment.
BAE Systems digital head up display for F22 Raptor
Analyst Comment
While not unusual for military device developers to outsource subcomponents to other companies including competitors, it strikes me as a little odd that the developer of the light engine employs another company to develop the projector. Maybe their definition of ‘projector’ differs somewhat from ours. NH
