ABSTRACT
Science and technology have been integrated into military strategy and tactics since the beginning of time. In the current era, armies are pushing the boundaries of technology in both the preparation for combat, as well as digitizing the present battlefield. This chapter highlights the extent to which augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are transforming the way armies train and fight. The first part analyzes the reality spectrum and in particular, the developments associated with AR, VR and the metaverse. The second part demonstrates the way AR and VR instruments are integrated in the military sector. This includes among others, efforts to decrease the time and logistics required to train soldiers on combat tactics, to produce warfare simulations and virtual boot camps, but also how to train doctors and paramedics to carry out lifesaving operations in the stressful surroundings of a real warzone. Having conceptualized how AR and VR are practically applied in the military sector, the last part places these technological developments within the broader context of military transformation and critically questions whether these developments do actually constitute a new revolution in military affairs or not.
