Pentagon Looks to Virtual Reality to Prepare Troops for Nuclear War

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Pentagon Looks to Virtual Reality to Prepare Troops for Nuclear War
By: Jack Corrigan - Defense One -7-8-19
RE: https://www.defenseone.com/technolog...ar-war/158245/

The Defense Threat Reduction Agency wants info about VR training systems that could simulate “radiological threats.”

The Defense Department is considering investing in virtual reality platforms to prepare troops to face nuclear threats.

The Defense Threat Reduction Agency on Tuesday began seeking information on virtual reality training systems that would allow troops to rehearse different scenarios involving “radiological threats.”

The agency, which focuses on countering weapons of mass destruction, could one day use the tech to train troops to intercept radiological weapons on the battlefield, respond to radioactive contamination and even prepare for full-fledged nuclear war, officials wrote in the solicitation.

While virtual and augmented platforms wouldn’t entirely replace the agency’s current training regimen, they would expose troops to more training exercises than they could ever experience in the real world. Physical training is expensive and time-consuming, but through virtual reality, troops could run through more exercises more frequently and at a lower cost.

Under the solicitation, officials are looking for industry to outline their own virtual reality platforms, the hardware required to use them and how environments can be modified to accommodate new exercises.

Officials plan to use the information collected under the solicitation to inform potential future acquisitions. Responses are due Aug. 12.

This wouldn’t be the first time the Pentagon turned to virtual platforms to train troops for real-world scenarios.

Last year, Microsoft won a $480 million contract with the Army to adapt its HoloLens augmented reality headsets for use in military training and combat operations. The headsets would be outfitted with artificial intelligence and machine-learning capabilities, and provide troops with “increased lethality, mobility, and situational awareness.”

In February, Microsoft employees wrote a letter to executives demanding the company pull out of the contract, saying they “refuse to create technology for warfare and oppression.” The company opted to stand by its partnership with the Pentagon.

About the writer: Jack Corrigan reports on cyber and national security issues. Before joining Nextgov in 2017, he wrote for multiple publications around his hometown of Chicago. Jack graduated from Northwestern University with degrees in journalism and economics

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Let's get real here. Preparing for a nuclear war is impossible. Even if you are undercover - when you finally come out the radio-activity and pollution will get you sooner or later.
There are no winners in a nuclear war. Let's face it - until all these weapons are gone or destroyed this planet has no future. Any survivor's will find it very difficult to survive. All life will be poisoned as well as the water. God only knows if a bunch of nukes could set off hundreds of worldwide earthquakes and tsunamis as well - adding to additional destruction. Folks a nuclear war is not survivable no matter what precautions you take - all life is doomed. Some may survive (for a year or so if that) only to die in a short period of time. The atmosphere will spread these contaminants around the world covering every inch including the oceans. Folks we have to remove these weapons of mass destruction or this world will be come a dead rock. The human geno will be changed and produce terrible defects in the human race as well as all living things on this earth. I can't believe people think they could survive on earth after a full blown nuclear exchange?

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