Red 6 wins USAF contract to integrate augmented reality with F-16

Orlando, Florida-based Red 6 has win a contract of undisclosed value from the US Air Force to integrate its ATARS (Airborne Tactical Augmented Reality System) into the F-16 Fighting Falcon, commonly known as the Viper. The virtual reality systems is mounted In the pilot’s helmet and projects images simulating the presence of other aircraft and threats.

Awarded through Air Combat Command and the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), this milestone positions Red 6 as the first company in the world delivering real-time, in-flight synthetic air combat training directly into the cockpits of operational fighter jets, says the company.  

“This is more than a contract — it’s a validation of our vision and a signal that the future of air combat training has arrived,” said Daniel Robinson, Co-founder and CEO of Red 6. “ATARS is the only system capable of replicating the cognitive complexity fighter pilots face in real-world engagements — and now we’re delivering it in the cockpit of a frontline tactical jet. The F-16 is just the beginning.”  

The contract builds on Red 6’s successful integration of ATARS into the T-38 Talon advanced jet trainer and signals a major expansion of the company’s growing footprint across the US Air Force and beyond. ATARS allows pilots to train against intelligent, manoeuvring virtual adversaries in real-time during live flight — delivering immersive, repeatable, and measurable training that blends the realism of live operations with the flexibility of simulation, the company says.  

Red 6 has also announced a collaboration with fellow-US company SNC to integrate ATARS technology into SNC’s proposed solution for the US Navy’s Undergraduate Jet Training System (UJTS) program, the Freedom Jet. This will replace the venerable T-45A Goshawk jet trainer.

The UJTS program seeks to procure a minimum of 200 aircraft to replace the  T-45As with the service emphasizing the need for advanced training capabilities that can prepare pilots for modern operational challenges.

Built on a low-latency, network-agnostic architecture, ATARS delivers high-resolution, full-colour synthetic entities without compromising performance or safety. The system supports next-generation collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) development, enables training in constrained airspace, and generates structured datasets to objectively assess pilot readiness.  

In addition to the F-16 and the T-38, ATARS is already integrated into the MC-130 with the US Air Force and the BAE Systems Hawk T.2 with the Royal Air Force. Red 6 also holds active integration partnerships with Boeing, Aeralis, Palantir, SNC, and Northrop Grumman.  

Red 6’s partnership with SNC builds upon an already successful track record, most recently with SNC supporting Red 6 on its multi-MAJCOM Strategic Funding Increase (STRATFI) contract with the USAF to develop comprehensive airworthiness testing and evaluation plans.