BAE Systems has produced more than 15,000 head-up displays, which have been in service on more than 50 different aircraft.
LiteWave
BAE Systems has unveiled a new lightweight, compact Head-Up Display (HUD) for use in commercial and military aircraft called the LiteWave. It is a laptop-sized HUD mounted above the pilot’s head that presents critical information, such as direction, altitude, and speed, directly in the pilot’s line of sight. LiteWave is almost 70 percent smaller and lighter than traditional HUD and can be fitted in aircraft with limited cockpit space. It is 80 percent faster to install with a simple design with quick and cheap maintenance. It is powered by BAE Systems’ revolutionary, patented waveguide technology.
What is a Head-up Display?
Minimization of size and weight in modern aircraft design has had many benefits. Unfortunately, it has also reduced opportunities to give pilots the line-of-site benefits of the latest see-through, Head-Up Display (HUD) systems.
LiteWave @ largest eye-motion box
LiteWave can be easily adjusted to suit any individual flying position and allows the pilot to maintain excellent situational awareness, even during poor weather or at night. It offers the largest eye-motion box of any HUD available, which means pilots can move more freely in their seats, without the risk of losing sight of the display. This freedom of movement allows you to maintain comfort and not be stuck in one position, especially important on longer flights.
Lee Tomlinson, director of HUD products at BAE Systems’ Electronic Systems business said, “LiteWave can be fitted into virtually any cockpit in the world. Our engineers have created a digital display that is smaller, lighter, and uses less power than any other Head-Up Display. It has the potential to revolutionize the market and make HUD technology far more accessible.”
Benefits of LiteWave HuD
- Integrates into cockpits with limited space
- Cost-effective upfront and through the product’s lifetime 80 percent faster to install with no additional realignments required
- Allows pilots exceptional freedom of movement without losing sight of the display – greatly increasing their comfort
- Offers a significant increase in mean time between failure (MTBF), when compared to traditional HUDs
- The high-resolution display provides pilots with crisp symbology under all flight conditions
- A reliable, fully digital display with no loss of brightness over time
Manufacturing facility
LiteWave is manufactured at the BAE Systems Electronic Systems site in Rochester, UK, which has innovated and invested in cockpit displays for over 60 years. The Rochester site has produced more than 15,000 HUDs, which are in service on more than 50 different aircraft types in more than 50 countries globally. This includes some of the most advanced and demanding military aircraft, such as the Eurofighter Typhoon, F-16 Fighting Falcon, and F-22 Raptor.
LiteHUD @Ultra- compact HUD
LiteHUD is an ultra-compact HUD offering major SWAP-C benefits plus the latest digital display technology, patented waveguide optics, easy modular integration, and 35X the reliability of analog HUDs. It marks the next stage in bringing state-of-the-art digital technology to the marketplace and is now available to begin flight trials for future customers on commercial and military aircraft.
Due to its small form factor design, LiteHUD can be integrated into almost any cockpit, from turboprop trainers to the fighters of tomorrow. This low-profile HUD is even compatible with next-generation cockpits that also feature a large area display. That combination is typically not possible with a conventionally-sized HUD.
To date, LiteHUD has been selected for the Hurkus-B trainer, Scorpion jet, and the BAE Systems Advanced Hawk, along with a selection of other undisclosed platforms.
LiteHUD timeline
LiteHUD has a highly reliable, hi-res digital display that’s visible in all flight conditions, with no loss of brightness over its lifetime.
Benefits of the LiteHUD include:
- 60 percent smaller by volume and up to 50 percent lighter than a conventional head-up display (HUD), enabled by patented optical waveguide technology
- Integrates easily into both existing and future cockpits, and is compatible with cockpits featuring a large area display (LAD).
- Incorporates a significantly larger eye motion box than a conventional HUD, increasing pilot comfort
- High-resolution navigation and sensor imagery displayed under all flight conditions
- High brightness, that remains stable over the life of the equipment
- Seamless operation with night vision goggles
- All-digital display provides up to a 35X increase in reliability and significantly reduced cost over the product lifetime
Capabilities & benefits
Legacy of HUD leadership
BAE Systems has been a leader in HUD vision, development, and production for more than 60 years – a position gained through continuous investment in technology and innovation. They have produced more than 15,000 head-up displays, which have been in service on more than 50 different aircraft types in more than 50 countries around the world. This includes some of the most advanced and demanding military aircraft worldwide, such as the Eurofighter Typhoon, F-16 Fighting Falcon, F-22 Raptor, and more.
