New Tech On Show At Northern Agility 22-1

During exercise “Northern Agility 22-1” in Northern Michigan, the Kelly Johnson Joint All-Domain Innovation Center teamed up with industry partners to showcase a multitude of new technologies.

They included augmented reality to enhance the multi-capable Airman concept, rapid integration of the Command & Control ecosystem, Synthetic Aperture Radar, Advanced Threat Detection and Visualization, and other capabilities.

One of the latest tools was virtual reality goggles, which advance the Multi-Capable Airman concept (MCA). The goggles are designed to help prop up the maintenance and logistics tail during forward deployments. The virtual reality goggles link down-range personnel with master maintainers and other support personnel back in garrison. The support team uses VR to help deployed personnel solve logistics and maintenance issues and other problems that may be beyond the deployed personnel’s expertise.

“None of our training activities could happen without the incredible partnerships the Michigan ANG has with our communities, civil agencies, and business owners across northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula” said Maj. Gen. Paul Rogers, adjutant general of the Michigan National Guard and director of the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.

“With Northern Agility 22-1, Michigan is moving Agile Combat Employment forward for the U.S. Air Force while integrating technologies from leading-edge companies and industries across the country. It demonstrates that when it comes to bringing that culture of hard work and innovation together for experimentation and development, Michigan is the place to be.”

The June 27-29 exercise took place in Michigan’s 17,000 square miles of dedicated military air space, some of which is over portions of Lake Huron, which make it an ideal location to conduct a realistic all-domain island defense scenario like NA 22-1.