The Missile Sight System (MSS) is used for employment of the Air-to-Air Stinger (ATAS) missile, .50 caliber machine gun, and the 70mm (2.75 inch) Folding-Fin Aerial Rockets (FFARs). The system consists of the Pilot Display Unit (PDU), display mount assembly, and Sight Electronics Unit (SEU).
The Pilot Display Unit (PDU) is mounted in the pilot station on the aircraft upper bulk head to the mount assembly. Electrical power and symbology is provided from the PDU's electronic unit. The PDU is used as a head-up sighting device for employment of the Air-to-Air Stinger missile, .50 caliber machine gun, and the 70mm rockets. During the dynamic environment of air-to air combat, the pilot is required to be head-up as much as possible. The pilot can perform all functions of an ATAS launch using hands-on control and the PDU head-up sighting system. The PDU has a brightness control to control display intensity and a TEST button which initiates the built-in test (BIT) of the PDU and Sight Electronics Unit (SEU).
The display mount is
attached to the aircraft bulkhead and adjusted to obtain
proper parallel alignment with the centerline of the
aircraft. The mount provides a mounting point for the Pilot
Display Unit (PDU) and allows the display to be adjusted
vertically by the pilot to compensate for eye level
differences between crews. Field level replacement of the
PDU is made possible without reboresight through the use of
a universal designed mount.
The Sight Electronics Unit
(SEU) is located at the rear of the top electronic
equipment shelf in the right side electronics compartment
behind the Armament Electronics Unit (AEU) and the Remote
Rocket Assembly (RRA). The SEU provides power to the Pilot
Display Unit (PDU) with control coming from the Armament
Control Panel (ACP) and the PDU. The SEU consists of
circuits required to provide symbology and weapon system
status for the ATAS to be displayed on the PDU for
Air-to-Air-Stinger acquisition, and range-related target
sighting data symbology only for aiming the rockets and
gun.
