Originally Posted by
Stitchbitch
That would depend on what you need the helmet to do. The Striker line of helmets would be obvious, but then there’s the Gentex helmet for Euro users, UK Mil helmets for UK and UK overseas customers..then a night requirement...
As
Stitchbitch notes, depends on (a) what the customer wants and (b) what they can afford - that is key. I'm sure industry is also looking at all sorts of ways to improve situational awareness and tactical advantage (there seems to be a good mindset out there these days) but, ultimately, what makes a project viable in Industry is what cash income to the company (whoever they are) is likely to see. No money in it = a dead programme. BTB - Blame The Bean-counters!!!
Re the comment by
Lordflasheart on the apparent tardiness of the RAF to adopt AESA, while not privy to the state of AESA nor it's integration into the Weapon System, maybe letting others weather the unpredictability may not be so daft. Besides, with Centurion probably still smoothing itself out, I'd suspect breathing space at the Phoon Desk in the UK MoD is also welcome/necessary!
Just some idle thoughts! Cheers,
H 'n' H