A searchlight control system for an aerial vehicle, comprising: a searchlight mounted to the aerial vehicle; a headset including a headset display and headset sensors (18, 74); a searchlight controller in operable communication with the searchlight, the search light controller configured receive tracking data and to output instructions for controlling at least one function of the searchlight based on the tracking data; and at least one processor in operable communication with the headset and the searchlight controller and configured to execute program instructions, wherein the program instructions are configured to cause the at least one processor to: receive camera images of a scene including a portion being lit by the searchlight; receive terrain data from a terrain database; generate an augmented/virtual reality scene based on the camera images and the terrain data; command the headset display to display the augmented/virtual reality scene; track gaze and head movement using the headset sensors; and output the tracking data based on tracked gaze and head movement wherein a field of view of the augmented/virtual reality scene is adjusted based on head movement and wherein the searchlight control system is characterized in that a beam direction of the searchlight is adjusted to the gaze area, detected by the headset, by being gaze slaved. a searchlight mounted to the aerial vehicle; a headset including a headset display and headset sensors (18, 74); a searchlight controller in operable communication with the searchlight, the search light controller configured receive tracking data and to output instructions for controlling at least one function of the searchlight based on the tracking data; and at least one processor in operable communication with the headset and the searchlight controller and configured to execute program instructions, wherein the program instructions are configured to cause the at least one processor to: receive camera images of a scene including a portion being lit by the searchlight; receive terrain data from a terrain database; generate an augmented/virtual reality scene based on the camera images and the terrain data; command the headset display to display the augmented/virtual reality scene; track gaze and head movement using the headset sensors; and output the tracking data based on tracked gaze and head movement wherein a field of view of the augmented/virtual reality scene is adjusted based on head movement and wherein the searchlight control system is characterized in that a beam direction of the searchlight is adjusted to the gaze area, detected by the headset, by being gaze slaved. receive camera images of a scene including a portion being lit by the searchlight; receive terrain data from a terrain database; generate an augmented/virtual reality scene based on the camera images and the terrain data; command the headset display to display the augmented/virtual reality scene; track gaze and head movement using the headset sensors; and output the tracking data based on tracked gaze and head movement wherein a field of view of the augmented/virtual reality scene is adjusted based on head movement and wherein the searchlight control system is characterized in that a beam direction of the searchlight is adjusted to the gaze area, detected by the headset, by being gaze slaved.