WASHINGTON, — April 1, 2026 : The United States Navy, through the Naval Air Systems Command, has awarded a $585 million contract to Collins Elbit Vision Systems LLC (CEVS) for the production and delivery of advanced helmet-mounted display (HMD) systems for the global F-35 Lightning II fleet. The award, announced on March 31, covers Lot 18 and Lot 19 helmet hardware and supports both U.S. military services and international operators.
Contract Scope and Structure
The agreement is structured as a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract, ensuring flexibility in procurement volumes while maintaining a fixed pricing framework. Under the contract, CEVS will manufacture helmet display units, helmet assembly units, and associated interface components, along with providing program management services.
The systems will be supplied to the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S. Navy, in addition to F-35 Cooperative Program Partners and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers. This reflects the expanding global footprint of the F-35 program and the continued demand for standardized pilot interface systems across allied fleets.
Production activities will be divided between two primary facilities. Approximately 80 percent of the work will be carried out in Wilsonville, Oregon, while the remaining 20 percent will take place in Fort Worth, Texas. The Department of Defense has set a completion timeline extending through July 2029 for Lot 18 and Lot 19 deliveries.
Helmet System Capabilities
The helmet-mounted display system remains a central operational component of the F-35’s architecture. Unlike legacy fighter aircraft, the F-35 does not incorporate a traditional head-up display (HUD); instead, all critical flight and mission data are projected directly onto the pilot’s helmet visor.
In addition to standard flight data, the helmet integrates inputs from multiple onboard systems, including radar, electro-optical targeting systems, and the distributed aperture system (DAS). This sensor fusion capability enables the projection of external imagery onto the visor, allowing pilots to maintain situational awareness without reliance on physical cockpit views. One of the system’s defining features is the ability to display imagery that effectively allows the pilot to “see through” the aircraft structure.
Industrial Background
Collins Elbit Vision Systems LLC is a joint venture between Collins Aerospace, based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Elbit Systems of America. The partnership focuses on advanced pilot interface technologies, particularly helmet-mounted display systems.
According to company data, CEVS has delivered more than 20,000 helmet systems to military aviators worldwide. Its products have accumulated over 1 million flight hours across approximately 40 different fighter aircraft platforms.
Program Context
The contract aligns with ongoing procurement and production efforts for F-35 Lots 18 and 19 aircraft. The helmet systems produced under this agreement will equip aircraft delivered under these production lots, ensuring continuity in pilot interface capability as the fleet expands.
The award supports the sustained integration of advanced avionics and human-machine interface systems within the F-35 program, meeting operational requirements across U.S. services and allied nations participating in the program.
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