What’s the story?
AeroVironment has expanded AV_Halo with new VR and AR training and intelligence fusion capabilities.
Why it matters
The update adds tools for immersive weapons training and multi-source intelligence that support operator readiness.
The bigger picture
Immersive training tied to real-world data is shaping how militaries approach readiness across air, land, sea, space, and cyber.
December 2, 2025 – AeroVironment, Inc. (AV), a provider of autonomous systems and defense technology solutions, has today announced the expansion of its AV_Halo unified mission software platform with the introduction of AV_Halo MENTOR and AV_Halo CORTEX.
AeroVironment stated that it launched AV_Halo in September as a hardware-agnostic platform designed to bring together command and control, AI-supported intelligence, synthetic training, and autonomous targeting within a single open-standards ecosystem.
The addition of MENTOR and CORTEX expands the platform’s ecosystem by adding tools that combine information from multiple sources (intelligence fusion), enhance situational awareness, and support operator readiness within the same architecture. It also marks the next step in AV_Halo’s roadmap by introducing two capability sets that support faster understanding, smarter preparation, and decisive advantage across air, land, sea, space, and cyber domains, according to the company.
VR and AR Training for Man-Portable Weapons Systems with AV_Halo MENTOR
AV_Halo MENTOR is a warfighter readiness suite that provides immersive virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) weapons training and mission rehearsal. The system’s Virtual Systems Trainer (VST) enables operators to train on weapons systems such as Stinger, Javelin, and Igla in a 360-degree virtual environment generated from real-world data.
MENTOR supports both individual and team-based training, and allows instructors to create custom scenarios, rehearse complex engagements, and conduct after-action reviews. The solution is available as a fixed installation or a portable, rapidly deployable kit, enabling training in a variety of environments.
Intelligence Fusion Tools for Multi-Source Data with AV_Halo CORTEX
AV_Halo CORTEX is an intelligence fusion and analysis environment that leverages AeroVironment’s Scraawl technology. CORTEX integrates open source intelligence, multi-source data, autonomous analysis, and real-time information to provide a comprehensive operational picture.
The platform collects and analyzes millions of global data points, including news, social media, imagery, video, and sensor feeds, and includes a proprietary geolocation engine for metadata-independent geolocation. CORTEX also features GPT-powered Insight Agents for conversational data queries and supports persistent drone-threat detection.
“In today’s rapidly evolving operational environment, the advantage goes to those who can understand faster and prepare smarter,” said Wahid Nawabi, AV Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer. “CORTEX and MENTOR extend AV_Halo’s role as the connective tissue across missions—fusing global information, AI-powered analytics, and immersive training into a single ecosystem that helps warfighters outpace threats, reduce risk, and make better decisions at mission speed.”
AV_Halo follows the U.S. Department of Defense’s mandated Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) design strategy to support interoperability and scalability across allied military and commercial systems. AeroVironment stated that it plans to further expand the AV_Halo platform with additional autonomous mission agents, simulation environments, and intelligence services.
For more information on AeroVironment and its autonomous systems and mission software solutions, please visit the company’s website.
Image credit: AeroVironment, Inc.
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Sam is the Founder and Managing Editor of Auganix, where he has spent years immersed in the XR ecosystem, tracking its evolution from early prototypes to the technologies shaping the future of human experience. While primarily covering the latest AR and VR news, his interests extend to the wider world of human augmentation, from AI and robotics to haptics, wearables, and brain–computer interfaces.