Army Launches First VAST Classroom

Project Director Sensors-Aerial Intelligence (PD SAI) has delivered the U.S. Army’s first Virtual Aerial Systems Trainer (VAST) classroom, now in use at Fort Bliss, Texas. The system provides immersive, task-based training for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions, supporting ATHENA and HADES platforms. Developed in collaboration with multiple Army entities and industry partners, VAST offers modular virtual reality instruction for pilots and crew members, covering operations from preflight to electronic intelligence.

This milestone marks a shift toward high-fidelity virtual training that reduces reliance on limited flight hours. Feedback from Soldiers has been highly positive, and the rapid deployment timeline underscores the urgency of modernizing training in today’s evolving threat environment. PD SAI sees this first delivery as a key step in scaling VAST across the Army in support of the broader Army Transformation Initiative.