F-16s Glimpse the future: Red 6 revolutionizes pilot training with augmented reality
Imagine an F-16 pilot soaring through the sky on a routine training flight. Suddenly, an enemy jet materializes on their helmet’s visor, followed by another, and then friendly fighters forming up, even unmanned drones acting as loyal wingmen. The aerial ballet of combat begins. While the F-16 itself is undeniably real, the other aircraft are not physical entities but sophisticated illusions projected directly onto the pilot’s helmet visor, courtesy of a groundbreaking new augmented reality (AR) training capability.
Defense technology firm Red 6 has recently secured a pivotal contract from the U.S. Air Force, tasking the company with integrating its helmet-mounted Airborne Tactical Augmented Reality System (ATARS) “initially” into two F-16 fighter jets over the next 12 to 18 months. This move marks a significant leap forward in military aviation training, promising to transform how pilots prepare for the complexities of modern aerial combat.
ATARS: Bringing Virtual Threats to the Real World
At its core, ATARS is an advanced optical system designed to seamlessly integrate with standard pilot helmets. It projects realistic, high-fidelity images of adversary threats—such as enemy fighter aircraft, missiles, and ground targets—directly into the pilot's field of view, allowing them to maneuver and engage against them as if they were physically present. Beyond adversarial elements, ATARS can also depict friendly assets, like drone wingmen, aligning perfectly with the Air Force’s burgeoning collaborative combat aircraft programs.
Red 6 CEO Daniel Robinson highlighted the immense significance of the F-16 contract. “The F-16 was obviously high on our priority list, just because it’s such a widely used and exported aircraft around the world,” Robinson told Breaking Defense. He emphasized that being selected to integrate ATARS into this iconic fighter jet “unlocks a tremendous amount of potential” as the firm’s first operational combat jet candidate. “So it’s a really big milestone for us, and one we’re really excited about.” Red 6 has previously demonstrated ATARS on platforms like the T-38, MC-130, and British Hawk T2, with aspirations for global adoption across various air forces.
Addressing the Pilot Training Deficit
The introduction of ATARS comes at a critical time, as Western air forces grapple with a “downward spiral” of pilot shortages, as described by Robinson, a former British Royal Air Force pilot himself. Traditional training methods present significant limitations. One common approach involves using friendly pilots as "red air" targets, a costly method that often provides "negative training" for the posing adversaries and is difficult to scale. The alternative, advanced simulation, while useful, “in no way emulates the cognitive loads” pilots experience in an actual cockpit.
ATARS offers a powerful third way. By projecting simulated adversaries, which can be networked across multiple units, pilots can train more frequently against a diverse range of threats that realistically mimic battlefield conditions. This allows for complex, large-force engagements without the prohibitive costs, logistical hurdles, and safety concerns associated with live-fire exercises or dedicated "red air" sorties.
Seamless Integration and Future Prospects
For the F-16 integration, engineers will first ensure ATARS communicates smoothly with other onboard systems. Following this, the focus will shift to “networked, multi-ship training,” evolving from basic formations to intricate, large-scale engagements within complex environments. Robinson described ATARS as "minimally intrusive," comprising a helmet-mounted optical system, cabling, and a compact computer within the aircraft. Crucially, the system is designed to be both platform and helmet "agnostic," ensuring broad compatibility.
Should the Air Force be satisfied with the F-16 deployment, the potential for scaling ATARS across wider training missions is immense. Robinson articulated the goal of achieving a program of record, projecting substantial financial savings for the combat air force—approximately $10 billion over the Pentagon’s five-year future years defense program. These savings would largely stem from a significant reduction in the need for costly "red air" flights, while simultaneously increasing pilot production and readiness.
Beyond the F-16, Red 6 is actively expanding its partnerships and applications. The company has already teamed up with Boeing for the Air Force’s T-7 trainer program and recently announced a collaboration with SNC on a bid for the Navy’s next training jet. The vision for ATARS extends even further, encompassing potential applications from air to ground, military to civilian platforms, including a patented visual ADS-B technology for tracking flight paths.
As Red 6 continues to push the boundaries of augmented reality, the skies over our training grounds are set to transform. With ATARS, pilots will not only fly their aircraft but also command a virtual battlefield, honing their skills against threats that are seen but not real, preparing them for conflicts that are undeniably so. As Robinson aptly put it, “Watch this space.”
