The Christie Matrix StIM projector can stimulate night vision goggles. (Christie Digital Systems)
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All the great graphics in the world won’t do any good for training if you can’t see them, which might explain why it took a year to pick a projection system for the U.K.’s new AW159 helicopter simulators.
The contract was finally awarded in early April to Christie Digital Systems USA, Inc., which makes the chosen Christie Matrix StIM systems. The projectors were selected by Indra, an IT company in Spain working with AgustaWestland to deliver three simulators to be used by the British military.
“After extensive prior tests, we chose these projectors because of their features associated with infrared simulation,” said Juan Andrés García, Indra’s director of helicopter simulators.
Christie Matrix StIM is a 600-lumen LED projector that gives operators independent control over the visible spectrum of light as well as the infrared spectrum, meaning it can stimulate night vision devices.
The simulators will replicate the AW159 Lynx Wildcat helicopter, an anti-submarine, search-and-rescue and utility aircraft slated to start operational service with the British Army in 2014 and Royal Navy in 2015, according to AgustaWestland.
The British military’s trainers — and their Christie projectors — will be housed at a new training center built by AgustaWestland at Royal Navy Air Station Yeovilton in England. They are slated to open for operations in 2013 and 2014.
