F-35 Joint Program Office, Lockheed Complete Initial Test on Jet’s Helmet

The Defense Department’s F-35 joint program office has completed the initial test of a prototype helmet for integration with the Lockheed Martin-built fighter jet, Defense News reported Tuesday.

Lara Seligman writes JPO and Lockheed performed the test on a 103-pound mannequin fitted with the Generation III helmet at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico March 31.

Joe DellaVedova, a spokesman for the F-35 JPO, told the publication the initial test also integrated three design updates to the fighter jet’s escape system that work to reduce risks of ejection-related neck injury among F-35 pilots.

DellaVedova told Defense News the JPO expects to complete tests on the F-35 helmet by the end of the summer of 2016 and deploy it to the fleet by the end of the year.

JPO has also performed more than seven other tests with Lockheed and seat manufacturer Martin Baker on the fighter plane’s ejection seat, according to the report.