Boeing Agrees To Integrate Augmented Reality On TA-4

Boeing T-7 advanced jet trainer
Credit: Boeing

Boeing has agreed to integrate the Red 6 training system on a company-owned McDonnell Douglas TA-4 chase plane as a step toward potentially integrating the visually augmented reality technology on U.S. Air Force trainer and fighter fleets.

The Boeing T-7 and F-15EX are the next candidates to receive the Advanced Tactical Augmented Reality System (ATARS) by Red 6, says Dan Gillian, vice president of Boeing Global Services.

The ATARS presents a synthetic image of another aircraft—such as a refueling tanker or a dogfighting adversary—on a special visor of a pilot’s helmet, allowing the pilot to train with another aircraft without the expense of operating the physical object.

“Red 6’s Augmented Reality system with the pathfinding T-7 and F-15EX represents another transformational leap in capability,” Gillian says.

Boeing says in a statement it is the first company to team with Red 6.

Lockheed Martin Ventures previously invested in Santa Monica, California-based Red 6, which has raised more than $40 million since 2018, according to CrunchBase.

The Defense Department also awarded Red 6 a $1.2 million contract on May 4 to integrate ATARS into the simulation environment of the Lockheed Martin F-22, according to USASpending.gov

Steve Trimble

Steve covers military aviation, missiles and space for the Aviation Week Network, based in Washington DC.