In a nutshell: Spatial audio has gained popularity lately, with companies like Apple and Sony bringing it to consumer headphones. However, the military is also interested in the technology. The US Air Force has awarded a contract to equip F-16 fighter jets with cutting-edge 3D audio with active noise cancellation.
Danish aerospace company Terma has landed a $9 million deal to kit out the US Air Force's F-16 fighter jets with its cutting-edge 3D audio system. Over the next few years, the Air Combat Command will upgrade its entire F-16 fleet with Terma's innovative audio tech.
Terma says traditional sound systems carry a "crowded room" effect that can mess with a pilot's focus. If sounds are separated in a 3D space, it's much easier for them to quickly identify and prioritize vital signals like missile warnings while filtering out non-critical noise. Hearing sounds in three dimensions significantly boosts a pilot's situational awareness.
Terma's in-helmet 3D sound system spatially separates different radio and audio inputs, aligning sounds with their source direction. Pilots will hear each sound coming from the precise location within the cockpit.
The audio system also incorporates head-tracking, providing super realistic simulations that update in real time as the pilot moves. Active noise cancellation filters out non-critical sounds for crisp, high-fidelity audio. The technology prioritizes must-hear sounds – missile alerts, air traffic control instructions, and so on – while dampening secondary noises like engine noise and other audible interference.
Terma's data shows that pilots respond 1.5 seconds faster to audio cues with the 3D system than visual alerts alone. That can make a world of difference in combat, where split-seconds count. The company also claims the technology can reduce stress and fatigue, enhancing decision-making.
"With this award, the 3D-Audio program continues to be a significant cornerstone of our offerings to meet the demand for best-in-class audio systems from the global community," said Rob Strasser, Vice President of Terma Self-Protection Systems.
The deal comes at a time when the US and other allies have accelerated training Ukrainian pilots on F-16s due to Kyiv's pressing need for air defense against intensifying Russian bombardments. Keeping pilots operating at peak awareness is critical to ensuring mission success and getting them home safely.
Terma's audio tech isn't exactly new to military aircraft. The company's aeronautical 3D sound systems are compatible across all aircraft types. Terma outfitted the US Air Force's A-10C Thunderbolt II ground-attack jets with the same 3D audio and active noise reduction system in 2019.
Image credit: Mohamadreza Azhdari