Darwin McDaniel
The U.S. Air Force wants to buy 3D audio warning devices from Terma‘s North American arm in an effort to increase situational awareness of pilots who operate A-10C Thunderbolt II attack jets, FlightGlobal reported Tuesday.
A FedBizOpps notice posted Monday states the service looks to procure 150 to 200 units of Terma-made audio system through a sole-source, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract.
Such technology is designed to separate and assign noises around a pilot’s head to track warning and alert notifications and the directions of threats.
Studies showed the audio technology in a cockpit could help pilot perceive the direction of an incoming missile threat 1.5 seconds faster compared with a visual display, Terma noted.
The Air Force maintains a fleet of 289 A-10Cs and uses the aircraft in close-air support missions that target adversarial forces, armored vehicles and tanks.
Terma will equip the service’s F-16 C and D aircraft models with 3D audio technology under a potential six-year, $44.3M contract awarded in January.
