Three Technologies Transforming Military Training in 2020
Video gaming isn’t just for fun and games. The quality and affordability of virtual, augmented and mixed reality technologies are now an essential element to military readiness. Here are three technologies keeping warfighters ready for their missions.
1. Augmented Reality + On-Demand Training
Your groceries, takeout dinner, the latest movie – it’s all available for delivery on demand. Military training is also going that route since service men and women need mission rehearsal tech at their fingertips.
Simulation combined with augmented reality glasses provide a new tool to conduct maintenance on critical warfighting platforms at the point of need. Recently, Lockheed Martin in partnership with the U.S. Marine Corps has undergone evaluation of new augmented reality based maintenance training.
2. Virtual Reality + Multi-Domain Training
In the multi-domain battlespace, systems are connected and integrated. In 2020, the F-35 Lightning II simulators will network with other systems to provide a train-as-you-fight virtual environment.
As Australia operates its fleet of F-35s, the nation is building its largest, networked simulation training system. The vision is to integrate simulators on the ground with aircraft flying and virtual friendly or foe forces to make the training environment realistic to the max.
3. Mixed Reality + Turn-key Training
Military training is about the people and not just the tech. Traditional approaches focus on delivering training tools and devices. Today, militaries are taking a more innovative approach to provide the shortest path to learning.
Turn-key training programs provide every element needed to prepare military personnel in one integrated system, including simulators and the aircraft. The result? Increased graduate skill sets, shorter training times and lower training costs. Australia, Canada, the U.K. and Singapore have all adopted this model, matching the training need to the right level of technology.
This model can also integrate emerging technologies like mixed reality, which combines the best of augmented and virtual reality. By merging real and virtual worlds, physical and digital objects co-exist and interact in real time.