Apparatus and method for displaying an operational area

A display apparatus that is able to display an operational area to an operative of a host platform that is a vehicle, said operational area being defined within an external real-world environment relative to said host platform, the apparatus comprising:

• a viewing device configured to provide to said operative, in use, a three-dimensional view of said external real-world environment;
• a display generating device for creating images at the viewing device;
• and
• a processor comprising an input for receiving real-time first data representative of a specified hostile target and its location within said external real-world environment and configured to receive or obtain second data representative of at least one characteristic of said specified target, the processor being further configured to:
• use said first and second data to calculate in real time a geometric volume representative of a region of influence of said specified target relative to said real-world external environment and relative to the real-time location of the target, said target being a threat to the host platform during navigation of the host platform if the host platform enters its region of influence;
• generate three-dimensional image data representative of said geometric volume, and display a three-dimensional model, depicting said geometric volume and created using said three-dimensional image data, on said display generating device, the apparatus being configured to project or blend said three-dimensional model into said view of said external real-world environment at the relative location therein of said specified target;
• and
• predict or calculate an effect on the region of influence, and display on the display generating device a three-dimensional model representative thereof, of a specified countermeasure, said specified countermeasure being an alternative to navigating the host platform so as to avoid the region of influence.