US Air Force Adopts Mixed Reality for Training

Vertex Solutions, a Woman-Owned Small Business, has delivered its first upgraded reconfigurable enhanced immersive training device (eITD) configured as a T-38 to the U.S. Air Force’s Detachment 24 (DET 24) at the 19th Air Force (19AF), Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA), Randolph, Texas. This milestone marks the debut of mixed reality (MR) cockpits in the Air Force’s "Fighter Bomber Fundamentals" syllabus.

The T-38 eITD, currently undergoing acceptance testing, enhances the U.S. Air Force's Virtual Training for Air Dominance program by introducing a MR cockpit to the T-38 eITD. The system enables pilots to interact with physical cockpit displays, buttons, and switches while fully immersed in a virtual flying environment. This integration delivers a new level of realism, allowing pilots to repeat critical maneuvers and training scenarios until they achieve mastery, preparing them for mission-critical operations with increased confidence and proficiency.

Vertex Solutions has been contracted to deliver a total of six T-38 eITD systems to the U.S. Air Force. Four of these devices are currently being installed at Columbus AFB, while two are set to enhance training at JBSA Randolph. This delivery follows Vertex Solutions’ and RYAN AEROSPACE’s successful showcase of the new ITD at I/ITSEC 2024. This rollout represents a transformative step in advancing pilot readiness through extended reality (XR) training.