A Nordic collaboration between Finnish company Varjo and Norwegian company Fynd Reality aims to enable virtual training of Ukrainian soldiers on military vehicles. The system is already in use in Ukraine for training in areas including vehicle operation and maintenance.
According to a press release from Varjo, the company has been selected as the supplier of XR (Extended Reality) technology for a training programme developed by Fynd Reality for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The programme covers training in the operation, procedures, and maintenance of several vehicle types and is already in use in Ukraine.
The system is based on Varjo's XR-4 Secure Edition headset in combination with Fynd Reality's training platform, Fynd CORE. Deliveries are made within the framework of Norway's Nansen Programme and are procured through the Norwegian defence procurement authority Forsvarsmateriell. The total project value amounts to NOK 82.5 million, with 39 systems being delivered in the first phase.
According to Varjo, limited access to physical vehicles has been a constraint for training, as many systems are deployed at the front line. The virtual solution enables soldiers to complete training before deployment, which the company states reduces risk and improves preparedness.
- XR training addresses a concrete operational challenge in Ukraine, where access to vehicles and safe training environments is severely limited, says Timo Toikkanen, Chief Executive Officer of Varjo, in the press release.
According to the press release, Fynd Reality has been working on virtual training for Ukrainian units since 2023, including training connected to the Leopard 2 A4 main battle tank. The platform enables scenario-based training without requiring physical access to materiel.
- Our collaboration with Varjo brings together the most advanced Nordic simulation technology. We are providing Ukraine with a new training capability that has already been validated in NATO environments and adapted to Ukraine's operational needs, says Knut Henrik Aas, Chief Executive Officer of Fynd Reality.
Following implementation, Ukrainian operators will themselves be able to develop training content, which Varjo states is intended to strengthen both short-term readiness and long-term capability development.