03 Dec 25. Plexsys and BAE Systems OneArc sign MoU to boost defence training. The MoU sets out plans for both companies to increase technical integration and to develop solutions for operational needs. Plexsys and BAE Systems OneArc have entered into a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), establishing a formal commitment to deeper technical integration and collaborative development in defence training systems. The MoU was signed on the first day of I/ITSEC 2025 in Orlando, Florida. It establishes a framework for closer collaboration between the companies, focusing on advancing interoperability and coordination in the delivery of Live, Virtual, and Constructive (LVC) training systems to military users globally. The companies plan to integrate Plexsys’ Advanced Simulation Combat Operations Trainer (ASCOT) 7 environment generator with OneArc’s VBS4 synthetic training platform to provide unified scenario generation and enhanced visualisation across air, land, maritime, space, and cyber domains. According to the agreement, Plexsys and OneArc intend to streamline training workflows for military customers by simplifying integration and minimising friction between tools. The collaboration will also look at aligning future product development to ensure ongoing compatibility as new features are introduced.
Plexsys chief operations officer Dr. Hart Rutherford said: “OneArc’s platforms and our environment generator already work together within many customer ecosystems, and this MoU allows us to take that collaboration even further. By aligning technical roadmaps and deepening integration, we can deliver training experiences that are more immersive, more interoperable, and more operationally relevant. We look forward to what this next phase of collaboration will achieve.”
Plexsys has provided LVC training solutions to defence customers for over three decades. Its ASCOT 7 environment generator forms the basis for modelling complex operational scenarios, supported by distributed communications and mission analysis tools. OneArc supplies synthetic environments through its VBS4 platform, which is used by armed forces worldwide to support a range of military training scenarios on virtual desktops. OneArc strategic growth and partnerships senior director Jenna Tuck said: “As militaries prepare for increasingly complex all-domain missions, partnerships like this are essential. Working more closely with Plexsys strengthens our ability to deliver scalable, multi-domain training solutions for our warfighters – across domains and borders.” (Source: army-technology.com)
03 Dec 25. LM, Blackshark.ai, Debut Next-Gen Image Generator Powered by Unreal Engine. AI-enabled Prepar3D Fuse provides cutting-edge graphics in a single environment for joint, multi-domain exercises. Today, Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT], with Blackshark.ai, unveiled Prepar3D® Fuse, a next-generation simulation solution to prepare today’s soldier for any mission. Built on a custom version of Unreal Engine 5, Prepar3D® Fuse blends Lockheed Martin’s simulation legacy with commercially available cutting-edge graphics and AI-generated terrain and sensor-modeling, giving warfighters, engineers and instructors a single environment for everything from initial flight training to joint, multi-domain exercises.
“Prepar3D® Fuse provides unmatched synthetic training for the warfighter,” said Adam Breed, chief of innovation at Lockheed Martin. “By marrying our proven SAGE and Prepar3D® technologies with Unreal Engine’s real-time graphics and Blackshark.ai’s global terrain, we give operators a high-fidelity training environment while cutting development time and driving cost efficiencies.”
“This marks the beginning of reality and simulation converging toward omniscient worlds that think, evolve, and remain in perfect sync with a changing planet,” declared Michael Putz, CEO of Blackshark.ai.
Key capabilities of Prepar3D® Fuse include:
- A full-earth, material-encoded globe that includes more than 1,000 geo-referenced airports and high-resolution cityscapes powered by Blackshark.ai.
- Physically accurate atmospheric and weather models, multi-spectral sensor suites, and proven SAGE Infrared Math Model to enable realistic training and validation of next-generation weapons and platforms.
- AI-driven semi-automated-forces engine that generates realistic behavior for individual crews up to brigade-level exercises, dramatically reducing role-player workload and accelerating scenario creation.
- Full compliance with distributed interactive simulation, common image generator interface and native UnrealEngine workflows to ensure seamless integration with legacy assets and rapid deployment of new content.
Prepar3D® Fuse improves aspects of live, virtual and constructive training, and will be inserted across Lockheed Martin training devices delivered across the globe. With its open system, Prepar3D® Fuse is adaptable for all training platforms to be quickly integrated and used with the highest fidelity of training available. (Source: ASD Network)
03 Dec 25. Varjo, the leading provider of military-grade virtual and mixed reality headsets, has today launched its State of XR in Simulation Training Report 2026, delivering a comprehensive and detailed insight into the landscape, challenges, and future direction of virtual and mixed reality technology in the simulation and training industry. Launching at I/ITSEC, the premier event for next-generation simulation and training technologies, Varjo’s report reveals the defense industry’s growing maturity in adopting highly immersive XR technologies to power the next generation of training. The State of XR in Simulation Training Report comes at a pivotal moment for the industry, as NATO nations face the dual challenges of readiness and modernisation amid an increasingly unpredictable and ambiguous battlefield. In this environment, XR is playing an expanding role in scaling training capacity. Comprising both quantitative and qualitative input from 106 industry professionals, the report finds that virtual and mixed reality training is most effective when it complements traditional simulators and live exercises. This combination creates a more efficient and realistic training flow, supporting collaboration across different units, locations, and mission types. The integration of classroom instruction, XR systems, and high-fidelity, full-mission simulators will be fundamental to a successful and effective training framework. Moreover, the report sheds light on the use of XR in defense applications, with realistic simulation (86%), mission rehearsal (50%), and multi-user/joint training (44%) dominating participants’ training priorities.
Key findings include:
- Adoption maturity is accelerating: Most organizations are beyond experimentation, using XR as a core part of their training ecosystem.
- Mixed reality leads usage: Over 56% of respondents use mixed reality, blending real and virtual elements to achieve operational realism.
- Training goals are evolving: Realistic simulation (86%), mission rehearsal (50%), and multi-user or joint training (44%) dominate priorities, highlighting a shift toward collaborative, distributed training.
- Unity and Unreal Engine remain the engines of choice, while interoperability (HLA/DIS) and multi-domain networking are emerging as critical requirements.
- Hardware progress drives usability: Visual clarity (72.6%) and comfort (60.4%) are the top decision factors, reflecting the need for durable, high-resolution, and ergonomic systems suitable for long-duration training.
- Challenges persist: Reliability issues, procurement hurdles, and lack of expertise remain the main adoption blockers, but organizations are increasingly recognizing XR as a strategic enabler, not a niche experiment.
The publication of the State of XR Report comes off the back of a period of increased momentum for Varjo. In October, the company launched its refreshed XR-4 Series headset, purpose-built to deliver superior training across land, sea, and air. In addition, last week, Varjo announced a strategic collaboration with German defense champion, Rheinmetall to integrate its technology into Rheinmetall’s deployable virtual land training systems.
Timo Toikkanen, CEO of Varjo said “As defense enters an era shaped by synthetic environments, the decisive advantage will belong to the forces that master and scale their training. XR is emerging as a key solution to the challenges of defense modernisation and readiness, and our report demonstrates the uptake, use cases, and future direction of the defense training industry.”
Varjo is showcasing XR training technologies at I/ITSEC in Orlando, Florida, from 1-4 December at booth #2301. In addition, Varjo’s technology will be on display across the I/ITSEC show floor, with over 50 industry partners showcasing Varjo technology as part of their integrated simulation solutions. Please find the link to the report here: chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://25667574.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hubfs/25667574/eBook%20and%20whitepaper%20PDFs/STATE%20OF%20XR%20REPORT%202026.pdf
01 Dec 25. British and Indian Army conclude eighth exercise, Ajeya Warrior. The UK and India concluded the eighth edition of the biennial army exercise, Ajeya Warrior on 30 November. The A (AMBOOR) Company 2nd Battalion Royal Gurkha Rifles of the British Army and the Indian Army’s 21st Sikh Regiment were undertaking complex training at the Mahajan Field Firing Ranges in Rajasthan since the start of the exercise on 17 November. Continuing the trend of increasing complexity and interoperability, the exercise this time focused on conducting peace enforcing operations in a counter-terrorism environment as mandated under the chapter 7 of the United Nations Charter. This involved executing simulated operations in a multi-domain urban and semi-urban environment. During the exercise, the two armies shared standard operating procedures and tactics across Counter-Improvised Explosive Device (IED), small Uncrewed Aircraft System (sUAS) operations, company-level skills and drills, urban training, and support weapon employment. This collaboration culminated in a battle group-level final training exercise, where the two forces operated under an integrated command, gaining invaluable experience and exchanging best practices. Beyond the tactical domain, both contingents engaged in fitness and recreational activities, further strengthening camaraderie, alongside team sports and informal cultural exchanges that reinforced mutual respect and understanding.
Lindy Cameron, British High Commissioner to India said: “Defence and security forms a crucial pillar of UK-India Vision 2035. Exercise Ajeya Warrior is a demonstration of UK’s deepening defence ties with India as we deliver this shared vision over the next decade. Beyond military co-operation, it underscores our shared commitment to peace, stability and a rules-based international order.”
Commodore Chris Saunders MBE Royal Navy, Defence Adviser, British High Commission said: “Exercise Ajeya Warrior has seen soldiers of the British and Indian Army operating alongside each other in a demanding urban and semi-urban counter terrorism focussed exercise. The exercise has enhanced shared understanding and interoperability, with both A Company 2nd Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles and 21st Sikh Regiment demonstrating the rapid transformation being undertaken by both forces in a rapidly evolving operating environment. Ex Ajeya Warrior follows closely on the back of our Navies training together during the recent visit by the UK’s Carrier Strike Group and demonstrates the ever-closer relationship and readiness of both our militaries to face shared security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region. We now greatly look forward to welcoming the Indian Army to the UK for Ex Ajeya Warrior IX in 2027.”
Further information
- exercise Ajeya Warrior follows the visit of the UK Carrier Strike Group to India, during which it exercised with the Indian Carrier Strike Group as part of the biennial maritime exercise Konkan
- the two countries have recently agreed on a 10-year Defence Industrial Roadmap, promoting strategic and defence industry collaboration
- the UK already hosts Indian officers as instructors at our world-renowned military institutions, including the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and Britannia Royal Naval College (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)