Helmet Technology Developed in 1970s
“A Weapon That Will Turn Heads” [April 6] claimed that much of the development of this system was done by Rockwell Collins and an Israeli firm.
Shortly after 1970, Lockheed developed a system that was put on the Cheyenne helicopter. A Gatling-type gun was mounted under the pilot and would turn in whatever direction the pilot’s head turned.
The gun was controlled by the helmet the pilot wore. He could aim and fire at whatever he looked at without moving the helicopter.
All of the design effort and tooling developed by Lockheed went into the Apache, manufactured by Hughes Helicopters, after the Army canceled the Cheyenne contract.
Albert V. Weaver
Newbury Park
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