Mixed Reality Device Targets Apache Helicopter Pilot Training

DigiFlight Inc. debuted its Phoenix Mixed Reality Flight Training Device at the 2026 Army Aviation Warfighting Summit, organised by the Army Aviation Association of America, April 15–17 in Nashville, Tennessee.

More than 1,200 AH-64 Apache helicopters are currently in service worldwide across over a dozen partner nations. Training organisations are increasingly looking to advanced simulation to expand pilot readiness while reducing the cost and operational constraints of live flight training.

Phoenix is designed to replicate the operational environment of the AH-64 Apache, combining mixed-reality technology, high-fidelity cockpit hardware, and advanced simulation software. The platform replicates the Apache's tandem pilot and co-pilot/gunner configuration, including anatomically accurate cockpit geometry, realistic flight controls, and high-fidelity instrument panels. Multiple trainer units can be interconnected to support multi-crew mission rehearsal and coordinated training exercises.

Key features include an AI Instructor Pilot Coach that observes and guides pilots in real-time, full tactical environment simulation including PNVS/TADS sensor simulations and weapons systems, advanced After-Action Review capabilities, and a Modular Open Systems Approach architecture for long-term adaptability.

"Today's global security environment is increasingly volatile, and the men and women flying combat missions must be ready to operate in complex and unpredictable situations," said Stan Oliver, CEO of DigiFlight. "Phoenix allows aviators to train in a fully immersive environment that mirrors real mission conditions while maintaining the safety and repeatability that advanced simulation provides. It's about ensuring today's warfighters are prepared for whatever the battlespace demands."