DIU has harnessed commercial innovation in extended reality and commercial gaming to solve a critical military training bottleneck, delivering a low-cost, high-fidelity solution. DIU’s fix addressed the high costs of military flight training and increased access to quality aircraft simulators.
Flight students and instructors often struggle with limited access to quality training tools. For one, it’s not a cheap endeavor. Military flight training costs were as much as $50,000 per flight hour in 2023. Legacy simulators are also costly to build and maintain, resulting in limited contact time for students. Students often spend the majority of their training time in classrooms, or “chair flying” with insufficient access to quality training media.
An Air Force pilot demonstrates a VTRAD virtual cockpit configured for T-38 pilot training.
Modern advancements in extended reality (XR) and distributed computing capabilities allow for low-cost, high fidelity, immersive pilot training. After the success of the Pilot Training Transformation (PTT) program, DIU partnered with Air Education and Training Command (AETC), Vertex Solutions LLC, and Metrea Simulations to deliver next generation XR training solutions for future student pilots and instructors. The Virtual Training for Air Dominance (VTRAD) project introduces a new category of training technology: the enhanced immersive training device (eITD). This device builds on recent advancements in extended reality and commercial gaming solutions, and delivers a next-generation flight simulation engine that is capable of supporting the high-fidelity requirements of the Fighter Bomber Fundamentals training program.
In Spring 2025, DIU transitioned Vertex Solutions and Metrea Simulations to production contracts, and the Air Force ordered 31 eITDs to provide high-fidelity training to 500 Fighter Bomber Fundamentals students every year. These devices provide the Air Force and the American taxpayer an estimated $50 million in cost savings annually and reduce necessary training flight hours by 20%.
Additionally, these devices are being developed to train multiple allies and partners. DIU, 19th Air Force, and the Air National Guard are helping Ukrainian and other partner nation F-16 pilots training in the U.S. by providing access to portable, lightweight, immersive training devices to enhance the U.S.-led training pipeline.
Through DIU, Det 24 is rapidly developing extended reality training solutions for the future of fighter bomber pilot training. Leveraging the synthetic environment for part-task training and mission recreation will translate into training efficiencies. This effort broadens the spectrum of training devices available for fast-jet flying.”
-Lt Col Steve Briones, Commander, Det 24, USAF