Tomorrow's Cockpit Technology In Today's Modern Helicopter

The new Hughes 530 MG Defender is a light weight, multi-role, combat helicopter which makes maximum use of the integrated cockpit concept. Compact, swift and agile, the 530 MG Defender is engineered to provide broad mission flexibility through the use of a modular, quick change weapon system and a control avionics management system with a flexible interface. The cockpit is designed to centralize primary flight information displays and controls for maximum crew visibility for day and night nap-of-the-earth (NOE) flight. The heart of the cockpit is the Integrated Control and Display System ( ICDS ) concept speci fied by Hughes Helicopters, Inc. and implemented by Racal Avionics of England which utilizes a mission computer, Multi-Function Display (MFD), Control Display Unit (CDU), Symbol Generator (SG), and a mission Data Transfer Device (DTD). All are linked by a MIL-STD-1553 multiplex data bus, which easily accommodates system growth on-a plug-in basis. The copilot has a stowable virtual image display to view TOW mast mounted sight (TMMS) video for either reconnaissance, target tracking or TOW guidance. The VID can also be used for nighttime reconnaissance in conjunction with the nose mounted FLIR system.