Danish aerospace company Terma has landed a $9 million deal to kit out the US Air Force's F-16 fighter jets with its cutting-edge 3D audio system. Over the next few years, the Air Combat Command will upgrade its entire F-16 fleet with Terma's innovative audio tech.

Terma says traditional sound systems carry a "crowded room" effect that can mess with a pilot's focus. If sounds are separated in a 3D space, it's much easier for them to quickly identify and prioritize vital signals like missile warnings while filtering out non-critical noise. Hearing sounds in three dimensions significantly boosts a pilot's situational awareness.