VARJO suplies C-UAS simulator

VARJO has expanded its support for the Ukrainian Armed Forces through the delivery of an immersive, realistic, and interoperable XR simulator designed to train soldiers for counter-drone operations. Developed by Australian technology company Applied Virtual Simulation as a direct response to the Ukraine War, the counter-UAS simulator Horizon Guardian is integrated with the Varjo XR-4 Series headset and involves one trainee flying a first-person-view (FPV) drone, while another attempts to neutralize it with a firearm. With drones now accounting for 70-80% of casualties in Ukraine, the simulator is designed to replicate the pressures, sounds, and pace that soldiers on the frontline face.

The industry-first simulator is currently undergoing trials with the Australian Defence Forces as well as being utilized in Ukraine to train soldiers for drone warfare. The development of a C-UAS simulator builds on VARJO’s ongoing work advancing the training capacity of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

An ongoing challenge for scaling training in Ukraine has been the lack of access to physical equipment and safe training environments. Immersive and high-fidelity synthetic environments have therefore proven critical in maintaining training continuity, strengthening readiness, and improving familiarity with complex systems. Addressing this problem, earlier this year Varjo announced that through its partnership with Fynd Reality and as part of Norway’s Nansen Program, 39 XR training systems have been delivered to Ukraine, providing multi-user scenario-based familiarisation, procedural, and maintenance training across a range of land vehicles, including the Leopard 2A4 tank.  

The effectiveness of XR systems in accelerating training was underscored in a recent study conducted by the research laboratory, led by Ihor Barkatov, at the Military Institute of Tank Troops of NTU “KhPI”, which found that 65% of Ukrainian cadets found XR-based training to be the most effective training platform, while 67% reported that VR and digital tools gave them the best understanding of functional responsibilities.  

Similarly, in 2024, VARJO worked with Czech company Dogfight Boss to deliver a complete F-16 mixed reality cockpit simulator, accompanied by a VARJO XR-4 Series headset, to Ukraine. The simulator enables early-stage pilot training to take place in-country, while also providing a platform for pilots to rehearse complex manoeuvres and operations, and to re-run scenarios as required.  

“The continuously evolving battlefield tactics and technology deployed in the Ukraine War has underscored the need for training capabilities that are integrated into a military’s operational infrastructure to ensure that personnel are training for the realities of today’s conflicts, rather than those of the past,” said Timo Toikkanen, CEO of Varjo. “Varjo’s mixed reality technology is solving a real operational challenge in Ukraine, and the latest counter-UAS simulator from Applied Virtual Simulation further demonstrates the need for agility, innovation, and speed in designing military training solutions that bridge the gap between preparation and reality.” 

VARJO online