Red 6 Secures USAF Tactical Funding Increase for AR Training System Integration

The U.S. Air Force has awarded Red 6, a synthetic air combat training provider, a Tactical Funding Increase to support continued training systems integration into the T-38 Talon supersonic jet trainer aircraft.

Daniel Robinson, founder and CEO of Red 6, said the new award allows the company to continue modernizing pilot training solutions. The TACFI is part of USAF’s Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Supplemental Funding Pilot program, Red 6 said Wednesday.

The Miami-based company has been developing the Advanced Tactical Augmented Reality System, which allows pilots to use real aircraft to interact with computer-generated allies or foes in the sky. ATARS-based training can simulate various missions, including air-to-air refueling, formation flying and air combat maneuvering.

The Air Force is in the process of integrating ATARS into the T-38 Talon. The aircraft is manufactured by Northrop Grumman and is designed to prepare pilots to fly warfighting jets, such as the F-15, F-16 and the F-22.

The T-38 is a two-seater jet that can accommodate both the trainee and the instructor. It has a maximum range of 1,093 miles, a maximum thrust of 2,900 pounds when the afterburners are activated, a top speed of 812 mph and an altitude ceiling of around 55,000 feet.

Red 6 manufactures AR-based training platforms for military applications. Its ATARS platform uses both indoor and outdoor settings to provide an immersive digital experience to clients.