24 Nov 25. USAF Bolsters Airpower Readiness During Arctic Gold. The 354th Fighter Wing conducted readiness exercise Arctic Gold 26-1 at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, Nov. 17-19. The exercise is designed to test the wing’s ability to quickly generate, deploy and sustain combat-ready airpower in a high-threat environment.
“A lot of work and planning was put into getting this exercise to run efficiently and effectively, taking into account all of the separate factors that affect the way things play out and what we can accomplish towards the mission,” said Air Force Master Sgt. Zachary Kugler, exercise program director. “We use key takeaways and lessons learned to shape the way we generate airpower in the future and how we can apply it to both exercises and real-world scenarios.”
During the exercise, the 354th Operations Group tested its mission capabilities and readiness by deploying F-35A Lightning IIs from both the 355th Fighter Squadron and the 356th Fighter Squadron, supported by F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 18th Fighter Interceptor Squadron.
“The 354th OG is charged with providing combatant commanders with combat-ready forces in order to meet mission objectives and priorities,” said Air Force Lt. Col. Lloyd Wright, 354th OG deputy commander. “This accomplished by organizing, training and equipping our component squadrons who project power in the Pacific area of responsibility and maintain the northernmost strategic runway.”
Airmen carried the weight of the hands-on mission execution, building pallets, moving people and cargo, operating vehicles in extreme conditions and sustaining the pace required to generate combat power.
“Operating in the Arctic forces you to think differently, and our airmen proved that they not only understand the constraints but thrive in them,” said Air Force Lt. Col. Peter Daigle, 354th Logistics Readiness Squadron commander. “We rehearsed cold-weather processes, validated our deployment readiness, and stress tested the systems that enable fighter generation in one of the harshest climates on Earth.”
Daigle also highlighted the airmen’s ability to utilize technical skills and versatility, and to make sound decisions even outside their normal jobs, providing the tactical edge necessary in order to accomplish the mission.
“Every exercise gives us data, but Arctic Gold gave us clarity; our priorities are centered on sharpening the logistics foundations of our wing that makes us a combat-credible force, ensuring our squadron commanders continue to develop leaders who can think critically, operate independently and take initiative,” Daigle said. “The future fight will reward agility, creativity and technical mastery — and that starts with how we train.” (Source: U.S. DoD)
25 Nov 25. Rheinmetall, a leader in defense and security technologies and Varjo, the leader in military-grade mixed reality (XR), today announced a strategic collaboration to integrate Varjo’s technology into Rheinmetall’s deployable virtual land training systems, addressing the urgent need to scale training capacity across Europe and NATO. The partnership will entail equipping Rheinmetall’s modular driving and weapons simulation systems with Varjo XR-4 Series headsets, enabling forces to train more troops in more locations, at a pace that matches current security demands.
“Nations need to strengthen their defense capabilities faster than ever before, and training is at the heart of that mission,” said Bartek Panasewicz, VP Training Systems Land at Rheinmetall Electronics. “Mixed reality gives us the flexibility to train large numbers of soldiers where they are needed, without compromising on the quality or realism of the experience. Varjo’s industry-leading XR technology, combined with Rheinmetall’s top-of-the-line simulators, allows soldiers to scale realistic, high-fidelity training anywhere from central bases to temporary training sites. We are proud to partner with Varjo in accelerating NATO’s defense readiness.”
As armed forces expand and fleets grow, the ability to deploy training systems to different locations and reconfigure them quickly has become critical. Rheinmetall’s driving simulators can be transported and set up in the field, with cockpit inserts swapped in minutes to replicate different vehicles. With the integration of Varjo’s mixed reality, physical and synthetic elements can be combined seamlessly in a single training environment. Crews can operate with real hardware while immersed in realistic virtual terrains, replicating the conditions they will face in operations. This enables achieving the level of immersion required for effective operational training without relying on large, fixed-site simulators.
“Mixed reality provides a new edge for land training, accelerating preparedness at a fraction of the cost compared to traditional training methods,” said Valentin Storz, Chief Revenue Officer at Varjo. “By combining Rheinmetall’s high-fidelity simulators and our XR technology, forces can train with speed, mobility, and realism that matches today’s operational demands.”
Varjo’s recently refreshed mixed reality headsets, the XR-4 Series, deliver the highest-resolution visual fidelity, realistic passthrough vision, and advanced eye tracking capabilities for training across land, air, and sea. Instructors can assess how trainees interact with instruments, maintain situational awareness, and perform under simulated operational stress, creating a detailed performance picture that supports faster skill development.
Rheinmetall and Varjo will demonstrate joint training solutions at the Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference (I/ITSEC) in Orlando, Florida, on December 1-4, 2025, at booth #2301. The demo will feature an advanced XR truck driving simulator that enables forces to expand their training capacity with scalable, field-ready mixed reality technology.