Augmented Reality Aircraft Tackles Training Gaps

Red 6 is tackling U.S. military pilot training challenges using airborne augmented reality embedded in a real aircraft. In a hangar near Orlando, Florida, the company has outfitted a two-seat plane with its Advanced Tactical Augmented Reality System (ATARS), which simulates threats such as missiles, enemy aircraft, and ships without the need for physical assets.

ATARS allows pilots to train in dynamic, immersive environments during actual flight or in stationary simulators. Red 6’s technology is currently integrated into T-38 aircraft and is under testing for use in F-16s and MC-130s. The system offers a flexible “digital sandbox” that can be updated to include virtual collaborative combat aircraft.

With support from defense giants like Boeing, BAE Systems, and Lockheed Martin, Red 6 aims to modernize pilot training. The effort aligns with broader Pentagon goals to expand simulation-based readiness and reduce dependency on aging assets.