Naval Air Systems Command - Patuxent River, MD - The start of 2004 saw the culmination of a three year NAVAIR development and testing effort as Advanced Multi-Purpose Color Displays (AMPCD) were installed in the first F/A-18C aircraft. The "Vigilantes" of Squadron VFA-151 based in Lemoore, Calif. were the first squadron to receive the new displays and benefit from the joint efforts of the Air Combat Electronics (PMA209) and F/A-18 (PMA265) Program Offices and Honeywell Industries. The NAVAIR team was able to bring the AMPCD, a form fit function replacement for the Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) based Multi-Purpose Color Display (MPCD), currently utilized in F/A-18C/D and A/V-8 aircraft, in under budget and provide it to the fleet three months in advance of the contract delivery date.

With a high resolution, full color, active matrix liquid crystal display, the AMPCD offers a multitude of technological advances over the MPCD. These include the ability to display background raster video such as digital moving map and Forward Looking Infra-Red (FLIR) video with stroke symbology and the capability to operate in ambient temperatures between – 40 and + 85 degrees Celsius while withstanding severe environmental effects. The units also provide a clear view of the display screen in extremely high and low lighting conditions and can be used in direct sunlight as well as in complete darkness when viewed with night vision goggles. In addition, AMPCD Video Tape Recorder (VTR) output enables screen image recording when installed in the AV-8 aircraft. All of these improvements will supply the fleet with picture-perfect data for pilot utilization during critical missions.

The new displays garnered positive feedback from the pilots of VFA-151. The pilots noted the improved resolution and color, and related that the “AMPCD was better than the best MPCD display they had ever seen.” Squadron personnel were also excited to be the first selected to receive an upgrade that puts their display on par with their E/F counterparts.

AMPCDs have also been shipped to Miramar, Calif. for installation in the aircraft of Marine Squadron VMFA-323, and are scheduled for installation in AV-8 aircraft later this year.

For more information about the F/A-18 program please contact Denise Deon Wilson, Public Affairs Officer for PEO-T at 301-481-6263 or [email protected].

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Cutline:
The "Vigilantes" of Squadron VFA-151 based in Lemoore, Ca. were the first to receive the AMPCD to be used aboard their fleet of F/A-18 C/Ds. Present during the install were (left to right) Ed Tucker (PMA-265), Art Ruiz (North Island), Karen Adler (PMA-209), Sam Coleman (PMA-209), Mike Syders (China Lake), Corey Battistoni (PMA-265/3.1), Bill Dickey (Honeywell), AT2 Vonder (Lemoore), Angela Byers (PMA-265/4.5), AT3 Horner (Lemoore), ATAN Roberts (Lemoore), AT1 Gonzales (Lemoore).