A new digital frontier: Collins Aerospace helps U.S. Navy and Marine Corps pilots fly more safely in low-light conditions with new Enhanced Visual Acuity system

• Marks transition from analog to digital night vision systems
  
• First system to provide digital night vision capability for the pilot in low light conditions
  
• Development contract awarded for rotary-wing and tiltrotor aircraft

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (June 22, 2020) – Collins Aerospace Systems, a unit of Raytheon Technologies Corp. (NYSE: RTX), is helping the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps transition from analog to digital night vision systems with their new Enhanced Visual Acuity (EVA) system. The system, recently selected for use by rotary-wing and tiltrotor aircrews, is the first to provide advanced digital night vision and display technology that increases flight safety and mission effectiveness for the warfighter.

Currently in development, EVA is a digital day/night vision solution that will integrate a helmet-mounted binocular display to provide wider, higher-resolution imagery and improved night vision performance at Very-Low-Light-Levels (VLLL) – when the rotary-wing pilot needs it the most. In addition, the unique design will minimize head-borne weight to reduce pilot fatigue while increasing comfort and safety.

“Digital night vision is a big step forward in providing enhanced situational awareness to the warfighter, and is a foundation we'll continually build on to ensure mission success,” said Dave Schreck, vice president and general manager for Military Avionics and Helicopters at Collins Aerospace. “Collins Aerospace is proud to deliver the capability provided by EVA as it will be a significant force multiplier for rotary-wing and tiltrotor aircrews.”

Work on the new developmental contract is taking place at Collins Aerospace facilities in Iowa, California and Massachusetts and will be completed by March 2023.