An eye for an eye, a tech for a tech!
The US Air Force is going full "Top Gun" as they will be using augmented reality headsets for combat training, wherein pilots will be fighting AI-powered enemies, as reported first by The Washington Post.
Top Gun Inspired
Fighter pilots will start using helmets with visors that can add to reality and project digital copies of enemy fighter jets into their range of vision in about a year.
Pilots will have the opportunity to go to the skies for the first time and practice maneuvres against models of very sophisticated aircraft built by nations like China and Russia.
Additionally, it is a component of the U.S. military's multibillion-dollar investment in algorithms, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality to modernize its approach to warfare.
The Air Force will be the first to use the pilot training system developed by military technology startup Red6 as part of the company's $70 million deal with the service.
The technology, according to the company and former military officials, will be a safe, affordable, and practical approach to make sure American pilots are ready to take on the best fighter planes in the world.
According to The Washington Post, the US has made minimal changes in how it trains fighter pilots throughout the decades. The report noted that Navy and Air Force aviators have frequently followed a curriculum dating back to the 1960s.
Battle simulation is an essential part of training. The military gives its pilots a blend of real-world flying and flight simulator training to hone their skills.
Washington Post said that the "Top Gun" movie franchise introduced millions of people to pilot training methods as it was inspired by the Navy's Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor program, also known as "Top Gun."
Read also : US Air Force Receives First 'Fighter-Mounted Laser Weapon' That Can Combat Hypersonic Missiles!
Pilot Accidents
But training combat pilots for the military is fraught with serious problems. Although they are cost-effective, using simulators cannot duplicate the sensation of flying and maneuvering against an adversary, according to Red6 board chairman and former Air Force Gen. Mike Holmes.
The expense and hazard of training pilots in the air, on the other hand, can range from $15,000 to $100,000 each flying hour, depending on the aircraft. As reported by the Washington Post, there were 72 pilot accidents in the 2020 fiscal year alone.
Additionally, the military frequently hires opponents for the fight while pilots fly in the air to hone their combat skills. These companies that pose as aggressors deploy less advanced aircraft than the fifth-generation fighter jets used by the militaries of China and Russia frequently.
Retired Air Force Gen. Mike Holmes told the Washington Post that this is concerning, and pilots have to be more prepared than ever to take down highly advanced fighter jets from Russia and China.
The Air Force will depend on this technology to ensure safe and accurate simulations during combat training.
Related Article : US Military Will Use 'High-Altitude Hot Air Balloons' to Prevent Hypersonic Missiles Against China and Russia
This article is owned by Tech Times
Written by Joaquin Victor Tacla
