Augmented reality training on the horizon to give Soldiers edge in combat

FORT MEADE, Md. -- The Army's new battlefield heads-up display, the Integrated Visual Augmentation System, will revolutionize the way Soldiers prepare for future conflicts, the Army's vice chief of staff told lawmakers May 9.

"This is cutting-edge technology," Gen. James C. McConville said before the House Armed Services Committee's subcommittee on readiness. "It is going to transform the way we train Soldiers and the way Soldiers operate in combat. We're excited about it."

As the Army looks to further modernize its force, it has focused on synthetic training environments to boost Soldier readiness and lethality. IVAS is a single platform that Soldiers and Marines use to fight, rehearse, and train. The Soldier Lethality Cross-Functional Team identified technology that makes it possible to deliver a single system across the force. Similar technology has been used by the Navy and Air Force, which have used it to train fighter pilots. 

The IVAS system features advanced eyewear that places simulated images in a Soldier's view of real-world environments. The eyewear is connected to a small computer on the Soldier's body. The IVAS system is first and foremost a combat system that will increase Soldier situational awareness during missions, officials say.

https://www.army.mil/article/221766/augmented_reality_training_on_the_horizon_to_give_soldiers_edge_in_combat