F-35 pilots' $400,000 'X-ray vision' helmets nearly scrapped by Pentagon

The F-35 Lightning II, built by Lockheed Martin, is one of the world's most expensive fighter jets, priced between $80 million and $110 million. The Gen III Helmet Mounted Display System (HMDS) costs four times more than the helmet used in older F-16s, according to a 2015 investigation by Air Force Times cited by TechRadar. The manufacturer, Collins Elbit Vision Systems—a joint venture between Collins Aerospace and Elbit Systems of America—has shipped more than 3,000 units to the Air Force under contract, making the combined headgear program worth billions of dollars.

The helmet's signature feature is the Distributed Aperture System (DAS) designed by Northrop Grumman. This system uses cameras and sensors connected by software to let pilots track nearby aircraft or missiles, lock onto targets up to 800 miles away simply by looking at them, and view the ground below through the aircraft floor. The helmet also includes digital night vision, thermal imaging, high-resolution LCD lenses, and head and eye tracking systems that adjust to the pilot's movements.

Earlier versions of the F-35 helmet suffered from jittery visuals and ejection issues, TechRadar reports. The problems became so serious that the Pentagon funded a backup program with BAE Systems in case Lockheed Martin could not deliver a working design. It took years of design iterations and several review rounds before the current version was cleared for Air Force use, with improvements in mobility and vision.

Retired four-star General Mark Welsh III, the U.S. Air Force's 25th Chief of Staff, told TechRadar the helmet "is a workspace," adding, "It's an interpretation of the battle space. It's situational awareness. Calling this thing a helmet ... we've got to come up with a new word." Bob Hess, a senior director at Elbit America, said in a 2024 press release that the Gen III HMDS is "the most advanced helmet-mounted display system in the world," serving as a pilot's primary display for vital flight, tactical, and sensor information day or night.