Navy signs $585M F-35 helmet display deal

The United States Navy, acting through Naval Air Systems Command, has awarded Collins Elbit Vision Systems LLC (CEVS) a $585 million contract for the production and delivery of Lot 18 and Lot 19 F-35 helmet-mounted display hardware, covering U.S. services, international program partners, and Foreign Military Sales customers. The contract, announced on 31 March, covers both active matrix liquid crystal display (LCD) and organic light-emitting diode (OLED) helmet configurations for the global F-35 fleet.

The F-35’s helmet-mounted display system is a core operational component, replacing the traditional head-up display and serving as the pilot’s primary interface for flight, targeting, and sensor data.

According to the contract notice, Collins Elbit Vision Systems LLC, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is awarded $585,007,226 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the production and delivery of Lot 18 and Lot 19 helmet-mounted display hardware.

The contract includes helmet display units, helmet assembly units, and other helmet-related components, as well as associated program management services. The notice states that the systems will support the Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, F-35 Cooperative Program Partners, and Foreign Military Sales customers.

Work under the contract will be performed in Wilsonville, Oregon (80%) and Fort Worth, Texas (20%), with completion expected by July 2029.

The F-35 helmet-mounted display system is one of the defining elements of the aircraft’s combat architecture. Instead of relying on a conventional cockpit head-up display, pilots receive flight data, targeting cues, threat warnings, and sensor imagery directly projected onto the helmet visor.

This allows the pilot to maintain visual awareness while receiving fused data from the aircraft’s radar, electro-optical targeting systems, and distributed aperture sensors. One of the most recognized features is the ability to project imagery that effectively allows the pilot to “see through” the aircraft using external sensor feeds.

According to company background information, Collins Elbit Vision Systems, a joint venture between Elbit Systems of America and Collins Aerospace, has delivered more than 20,000 helmet systems to military aviators and logged more than 1 million flight hours across 40 fighter aircraft platforms.