A recent press release unveiled the agreement between Lockheed Martin, Korea Aerospace Industries, and Red 6( a Lockheed Martin Ventures portfolio company), to implement a clear-cut technology roadmap that administers Red 6’s Advanced Tactical Augmented Reality System (ATARS), into Martin’s Sophisticated T-50 platforms, and its associated ground-based training systems
The first integration between Lockheed Martin and Red 6 ATARS included a T-50 demonstrator and Red 6 ATARS technology, which was electronically networked with the Lockheed Martin Prepar3D software simulation suite.
This early jump at developing advanced engineering solutions provides Lockheed Martin and Red 6 with additional experience in integrating simulations. Of note is the possibility that this additional experience could eventually make up a significant portion of the T-50 program and ground-based systems.
Red 6 founder and CEO, Daniel Robinson, goes further to explain the significance of integrating ATARS with the T-50 program, saying “ATARS addresses the critical training inefficiencies in today’s training platforms. There has never been a training environment in which you can combine virtual assets being visually represented in the real outdoor world, and the opportunity to overlay this training into ground-based training, until now,” says Daniel Robinson, founder, and CEO at Red 6”.
In clearer terms, ATARS is a multifaceted augmented reality system that delivers a complete outdoor training experience for a variety of users. What the Red 6 ATARS technology does is transport pilots into a mesmerizing world of reality, where they can subconsciously experience the cognitive loads that come with flying an airplane in real life.
This experience helps pilots to capture the essence of synthetics, as it enables them to access a realistic, secure, and simulated outdoor training environment while in the air.
The Mind-blowing engineering solutions spearheaded by Lockheed Martin were further summarised by Aimee Burnett, vice president, Business Development for the Integrated Fighter Group at Lockheed Martin when he says;
“Our vision is to help our customers leverage emerging technologies to seamlessly and securely connect all assets for joint missions, and enable fast and decisive action,” said Aimee Burnett, vice president, of Business Development for the Integrated Fighter Group at Lockheed Martin. “Lockheed Martin has made significant advances in digital engineering and built strategic partnerships that are enabling us to accelerate development across our platforms.
“One such example is continued integration with Red 6 as we look to build advanced 21st Century Security capabilities that support our customers’ needs,” Burnett continued.
In the same light, Burnett brought to notice the Increasing demand for the T-50 program across the globe. In recent news, Lockheed Martin submitted a Variant of the T-50 program-known as the TF-50A, for the U.S. Air Force’s trainer program. This variant is designated to serve three short-term missions, which include tactical training, adversary air support, and tactical fighter surrogate.
The TF-50A is modeled as a light attack combatant/trainer with additional embellishments like radar, electronic warfare system, and tactical data, all of which enhance its capabilities to meet Air Combat Command requirements.
In addition to that, Lockheed Martin has also submitted the TF-50N variant (of T-50), for the U.S. Navy’s trainer program. TF-50N is embedded with a particular configuration that meets multiple U.S. Navy missions including pilot landing qualification, adversary air, training/chase, and tactical surrogate.
While the ATARS system was initially configured for the T-50 program, it could eventually be applied to operational Lockheed Martin platforms such as the F-16, F-22, and F-35.
It goes without saying that Lockheed Martin and Red 6’s quest to increase the efficiency of training platforms, through the integration of the T-50 program and the Advanced Tactical Augmented Reality System, will reshape the model of training systems and modern warfare.
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