US Air Force F-16 fighter jet pilots to train against augmented reality threats in flight

Using Red 6’s ATARS system, F-16 pilots will be able to train against virtual adversaries in live flight, blending real-world conditions with synthetic threats to boost readiness.

Augmented Reality for usaf f-16 fighter jet training

The United States Air Force has awarded a contract to Red 6 to integrate its Airborne Tactical Augmented Reality System (ATARS) into the F-16 Fighting Falcon. The move opens a new era of live-flight training, allowing pilots to face digital adversaries while flying real missions.

The agreement, issued through the Air Combat Command and the Air Force Research Laboratory, allows synthetic air combat scenarios to be projected directly into the cockpit during flight.

Red 6 is the first company to bring this form of airborne augmented reality (AR) training into operational fighter jets.

“ATARS allows pilots to engage in realistic, responsive training while in flight,” says Daniel Robinson, Co-founder and CEO of Red 6 “By starting with the F-16, we are expanding the options available to frontline aircrew without the need for live opposition or additional aircraft.”

What is augmented reality training and how does it work in flight?

Augmented reality overlays digital content such as adversaries, threats, or mission elements onto the real-world environment.

Unlike virtual reality, which replaces the physical world with a simulated one, AR keeps the pilot in the real aircraft and airspace but enhances the experience through interactive, computer-generated elements.

For military pilots, this means flying their aircraft while engaging synthetic enemy fighters or rehearsing missions that appear in their visor or helmet display.

The approach allows for immersive pilot training without requiring extra aircraft, fuel, or support crews, and enables practice in scenarios too dangerous or costly to conduct live.

Transforming pilot training in the F-16 Fighting Falcon

The F-16, in service since the late 1970s, remains the backbone of the USAF fighter fleet with nearly 900 C and D variants active out of more than 3,000 built worldwide.

By integrating ATARS, the Air Force can modernise training without altering the aircraft’s flight performance.

AR pilot training for USAF F-16
Photo: RAF

High-resolution synthetic threats and wingmen appear in the pilot’s visor during live flight, reacting in real time to manoeuvres and tactics.

This allows pilots to rehearse complex decision-making, coordination, and mission execution in a responsive environment that feels as if live adversaries were present.

Benefits and limitations of AR pilot training

Traditional pilot training combines classroom instruction, simulators, and live flight. Each has constraints in cost, scheduling, or risk.

AR addresses these gaps by bringing digital scenarios into the actual aircraft, exposing pilots to real G-forces, weather, and cockpit conditions while adding computer-generated layers of complexity.

Red6 augmented reality pilot training
Photo: Red6

Because ATARS is designed to operate with low latency and without network dependency, it can be deployed across varied environments without affecting aircraft safety. The system also records performance data for post-flight analysis.

However, AR is not a complete replacement for live training. Certain aspects, such as radar clutter, electronic jamming, or the psychological impact of live missile launches, still require conventional exercises to fully prepare pilots.

Augmented reality pilot training: Coming to more Air Forces soon?

Beyond the F-16, Red 6 has integrated ATARS on platforms including the TF-50, T-38 Talon, the MC-130 for special operations, and the Hawk T2 used by the Royal Air Force (RAF).

The RAF has already flown trials and plans to expand testing on its fast-jet training pipeline, which leads to Typhoon and F-35 Lightning squadrons.

USAF pilot with Red6 headset
Photo: USAF

The company also holds partnerships with Boeing, Aeralis, Palantir, SNC, and Northrop Grumman, suggesting future rollouts across other allied fleets. Wider adoption could even allow NATO forces to run shared virtual exercises across borders, without the logistical complexity of assembling multiple squadrons in one place.

The introduction of augmented reality in live cockpits does not replace existing training methods but adds a flexible new layer. It allows missions to be rehearsed more frequently, in more varied scenarios, and at lower cost.

For the F-16, a platform still central to US and allied air power, ATARS offers a way to sharpen pilot readiness without overstretching physical resources. If successful, the programme could become the blueprint for future training standards across the USAF and potentially NATO as a whole.

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