Improving the Management of an Air Campaign with Virtual Reality

This thesis evaluates the near-term military utility of virtual reality (VR) and its component technologies to the battle management of an air campaign. It presumes a large-scale air campaign on the order to that in the Gulf War where air operations were continuous, prolonged, and intense. The author begins with a discussion of VR technology to lay a foundation for understanding its current capabilities, future potential, and limitations. An examination of the prevailing structure and process for air battle management follows. In particular, the flow of information throughout the air operations center (AOC) is revealed and analyzed. The remainder of this thesis looks to mesh the technology of VR with the process of air battle management. Several near-term improvement opportunities are described as a result. The research concludes by assessing the viability and implication of a military decision to invest in a VR-enhanced air battle management system. Recommendations are given for areas in need of further research and development.