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This paper describes the developmental and testing activities conducted by the Italian Air Force Official Test Centre
(RSV) in collaboration with Alenia Aerospace, Litton Precision Products and Cranfiled University, in order to confer the
Night Vision Imaging Systems (NVIS) capability to the Italian TORNADO IDS (Interdiction and Strike) and ECR
(Electronic Combat and Reconnaissance) aircraft. The activities consisted of various Design, Development, Test and
Evaluation (DDT&E) activities, including Night Vision Goggles (NVG) integration, cockpit instruments and external
lighting modifications, as well as various ground test sessions and a total of eighteen flight test sorties. RSV and Litton
Precision Products were responsible of coordinating and conducting the installation activities of the internal and external
lights. Particularly, an iterative process was established, allowing an in-site rapid correction of the major deficiencies
encountered during the ground and flight test sessions. Both single-ship (day/night) and formation (night) flights were
performed, shared between the Test Crews involved in the activities, allowing for a redundant examination of the various
test items by all participants. An innovative test matrix was developed and implemented by RSV for assessing the
operational suitability and effectiveness of the various modifications implemented. Also important was definition of test
criteria for Pilot and Weapon Systems Officer (WSO) workload assessment during the accomplishment of various
operational tasks during NVG missions. Furthermore, the specific technical and operational elements required for
evaluating the modified helmets were identified, allowing an exhaustive comparative evaluation of the two proposed
solutions (i.e., HGU-55P and HGU-55G modified helmets). The results of the activities were very satisfactory. The
initial compatibility problems encountered were progressively mitigated by incorporating modifications both in the front
and rear cockpits at the various stages of the test campaign. This process allowed a considerable enhancement of the
TORNADO NVIS configuration, giving a good medium-high level NVG operational capability to the aircraft. Further
developments also include the design, integration and test of internal/external lighting for the Italian TORNADO "Mid
Life Update" (MLU) and other programs, such as the AM-X aircraft internal/external lights modification/testing and the
activities addressing low-altitude NVG operations with fast jets (e.g., TORNADO, AM-X, MB-339CD), a major issue
being the safe ejection of aircrew with NVG and NVG modified helmets. Two options have been identified for solving
this problem: namely the modification of the current Gentex HGU-55 helmets and the design of a new helmet
incorporating a reliable NVG connection/disconnection device (i.e., a mechanical system fully integrated in the helmet
frame), with embedded automatic disconnection capability in case of ejection.
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