Chinese military uses HoloLens 2 for aircraft maintenance

A video on social media has apparently shown a member of the Chinese military using Microsoft’s HoloLens 2 smart glasses while being trained in aircraft maintenance.

The clip, which was posted on social media site Weibo last week by the military channel of Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, features a member of the Eastern Theatre Command Air Force carrying out a “virtual disassembly before examination” of an aircraft engine. A 3D hologram in front of him shows an interface with Microsoft apps.

The post accompanying the video said the unit  was using a “mixed-reality maintenance system” for daily operations, which allowed engines to be replaced speedily and accurately.

The broadcaster did not name the device in its post, according to a report in the South China Morning Post.

The mixed-reality technology allows the wearer to see digital images laid over the real world, and to interact using hand and voice gestures.

The US Army had previously committed to spending what was believed to be $22bn on Hololens headsets.

But earlier this year, Congress refused the army’s request for $400m to buy up to 6,900 pairs of the combat goggles, following negative feedback in field tests, and offered $40m for a new version to be developed.