Air Force turns to digital twin technology that uses virtual representations of real objects for prototyping

April 6, 2021
Digital twin reference architecture provides standards and interfaces that enable the digital twin model to plug into other systems to test prototypes.

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – U.S. Air Force weapons experts are using digital representations of real objects to design and prototype the Air Force's latest jet trainer aircraft. Air Force magazine reports. Continue reading original article

The Military & Aerospace Electronics take:

6 April 2021 -- Generating a digital virtual representation of a real object, or digital twin, will help the Air Force to develop and test weapons by enabling defense companies to fight each other's designs virtually. Air Force researchers intend to stage regular competitions using digital twins, each dealing with a different technology area.

Digital twinning involves creating a detailed virtual model of an aircraft, weapon, or other object for testing without the time and expense of building an actual prototype.

The Air Force’s new Boeing-Saab ET-7 Red Hawk jet trainer, was designed and tested using this technology. To operate their digital twins while maintaining the integrity and confidentiality of their proprietary designs, vendors must build them to conform to a Government Reference Architecture.

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John Keller, chief editor
Military & Aerospace Electronics

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