Joint Operations of Land, Sea, and Air Forces in Virtual Reality

Naviworks Develops 'VTB-X' Platform for Joint Training of Army, Navy, and Air Force Personnel
Military Commanders Can Create Different Environments in the Same Operation for Repetitive Training

The 'VTB-X' platform where Army, Navy, and Air Force personnel can each train in a virtual space.

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] Naviworks, which has been developing a military virtual reality (VR)-based tactical training system, has evolved once again. Until now, platforms allowed Army, Navy, and Air Force personnel to train separately in virtual spaces. They have now combined these into one space. This is the joint training ‘VTB-X’ platform.

When meeting Naviworks employees on the 19th of last month, they were busy rehearsing to showcase the ‘VTB-X’ platform for the first time at the Korea Defense Industry Exhibition (DX Korea) held three days later.

When VTB-X was activated, a scenario setting screen appeared on the computer monitor. Although it was a virtual scenario, actual operation names and environmental conditions at the time, such as the Dawn Operation, were faithfully reproduced. Artificial intelligence (AI) programmed with U.S. military tactical doctrines was designed to input values that could determine the success of the operation in the VTB-X scenario. It identified and designated words like squad, autumn, and dawn. After entering the number of squad members, the AI quickly calculated the probability of success. A company official said, "The success rate varies depending on the squad members’ positions, formations, weather, and humidity, allowing commanders to create different environments for the same operation and conduct repeated training."

It was not only virtual squad members. Next to the commander, an actual soldier wore VR goggles and carried out operational missions with other squad members inside VTB-X. The soldier’s real name appeared on the monitor, and the commander assessed the soldier’s mission performance in real time. Even with just one soldier in VTB-X, large-scale operational training was sufficiently possible. Through this training, soldiers were deployed in various scenario operations, and their combat effectiveness was measured according to situations. During the operation, an unexpected event such as a bomb drop occurred. When the bomb exploded, the actual soldier began advancing while covering the virtual squad members. After the training ended, the commander evaluated the actual soldier deployed in the operation. Survival rate, casualty rate, and mission accomplishment rate were displayed numerically.

A company official said, "If VTB-X is integrated into a metaverse space, it becomes the intelligent control platform called MetaEyes. It allows commanders to see at a glance on a map the points, methods, and targeted computers of cyberattacks, enabling rapid command."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.