Augmented reality startup Red 6 on Thursday said it has received a strategic investment from the ventures unit of Lockheed Martin [LMT], funding that will allow the small California-based company to accelerate development and commercialization of its augmented reality system for airborne tactical training.
The value of the investment wasn’t disclosed. Lockheed Martin Ventures invests in innovative technology companies.
Red 6 is developing the Airborne Tactical Augmented Reality System (ATARS), which it says can be used outdoors and in dynamic environments, both breakthroughs for augmented reality technology. The ATARS system allows pilots to train during actual flight in their aircraft against synthetic enemies.
The company also said that partnering with Lockheed Martin provides it with expertise in integrating the technology into warfighting systems.
“ATARS allows real pilots in real airplanes to fly and visually maneuver against any synthetically generated enemy in real time, which is a new paradigm in training and operations,” Daniel Robinson, CEO of Red 6, said in a statement. “The Red 6 team is passionate about providing the quantity and quality of training that our warfighters deserve. Working with aerospace leaders such as Lockheed Martin, who understand the value of our technology and how to integrate it into current and future platforms, is incredibly important. In that sense, we view Red 6’s relationship with Lockheed Martin as an important long-term working relationship.”
Red 6 was founded in 2018 and has been working with the Air Force through the service’s AFWERX effort, which links the Air Force with innovators in industry and academia and helps identify funding sources. Red 6 says it was the first AFWERX-backed company to receive a Small Business Innovation Research Phase III contract, which is where small businesses move to commercialize their products.
Previous investors in Red 6 include Moonshots Capital, Starburst Accelerator, Irongate Capital Partners, and video game developer Epic Games, which awarded the company a $250,000 “megagrant” to help with development of ATARS.