Red 6 signs strategic agreement with RAF and NSSIF for AR technology

In Augmented Reality News 

June 21, 2023 – Red 6, an augmented reality (AR) technology firm that provides applications for military air combat training, has this week announced a strategic agreement with the United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force (RAF), and the National Security Strategic Investment Fund (NSSIF), the UK Government’s corporate venturing arm for dual-use advanced technologies.

According to Red 6, both parties seek to work collaboratively with the company to supply augmented reality technologies in support of the UK military flying training ecosystem, known as UKMFTS.

“This agreement marks the beginning of a paradigm shift in training for UK fighter pilots, and I’m delighted that both the RAF and NSSIF recognize the role Red 6’s technology will play in delivering this capability,” said Daniel Robinson, Founder and CEO of Red 6. “Having served with both the RAF and the USAF, I’m passionate about aligning both services on the early adoption of this technology. It is essential that we can interoperate seamlessly if we are to prevail in the high-end fight and the first step to achieving this is to be able to train together. I envision a future in which all warfighters, across all domains, can train together in a joint augmented training environment.”

NSSIF makes investments that help accelerate the adoption of the UK government’s future national security and defense capabilities, while developing the country’s dual-use technology ecosystem. The fund participated as an investor in Red 6’s recent USD $70 million Series B capital raising round. Through its investment, NSSIF will also support Red 6 with its integration into BAE Systems Ltd (BAEs) Hawk aircraft.

The RAF collaborates with government, military, and civilian partners in the UK and overseas to promote UK security, prosperity, and national interests around the world. The adoption of advanced technologies is vital if it is to remain at the forefront of global security.

Air Vice Marshal Ian Townsend, Air Officer Commanding No. 22 Group, Royal Air Force, stated: “Exploitation of novel technologies is an essential part of ensuring that the RAF can sustain its combat edge and succeed on operations against a constantly evolving adversary. Our collaboration with Red 6 is a core part of ensuring we are seeking innovative ways to improve the way in which we train, allowing us to generate the very best combat pilots possible. augmented reality presents an exciting opportunity, and I look forward to developing the capability alongside our industry partners.”

Red 6 has developed the Advanced Tactical Augmented Reality System (ATARS). The company states that ATARS is a multi-node, all-domain AR system that delivers a complete outdoor synthetic training environment for multiple users. It allows pilots to experience the cognitive loads of physically flying airplanes for real but captures the value of synthetics by enabling them to enter realistic, scalable, simulated training environments, outdoors.

“The Red 6 team and I are focused on delivering a synthetic training environment that will provide real life, near-peer threat training that enhances cognitive skills and learning. ATARS will directly address the pilot production shortfall, improve readiness and lethality, and greatly decrease the overextension of resources in a quicker, cheaper, safer, and cleaner way,” added Robinson.

For more information on Red 6 and its augmented reality training solutions for fighter pilots, please visit the company’s website.

Image credit: Red 6

About the author

Sam Sprigg

Sam is the Founder and Managing Editor of Auganix. With a background in research and report writing, he has been covering XR industry news for the past seven years.