Armed Forces News

The Army and Navy are working jointly with industry to employ augmented reality (AR) in weapons training. The latest system, called Tactically Reconfigurable Artificial Combat Enhanced Reality (TRACER), is undergoing tests at the Center for Security Forces at the Naval Support Activity Northwest Annex in Currituck County, N.C. Working with the Office of Naval Research (ONR) and the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command are industry partners are Magic Leap Horizons and Haptech Inc.

Using TRACER, trainees wear a headset and backpack while bearing an instrument-weapon that provides realistic recoil when fired. The headset can present a multitude of simulated situations to trainees, preparing them for security and warfare training. With the VR capability, TRACER can be used on ships — where training space and opportunity is otherwise limited.