CASE STUDY

BISim and Varjo Deliver the World’s Most Advanced Technology Combination to Power Mission-Critical Synthetic Training

The seamless fusion of Bohemia Interactive Simulations (BISim) software and Varjo hardware creates a next-generation simulation ecosystem that is setting new standards for realistic, effective, and scalable training.

Customer

Industry

Defense

About customer

Bohemia Interactive Simulations (BISim) is a global training and simulation software company for defense and civilian organizations. They develop high-fidelity, cost-effective simulation software products and components for defense applications.

BISim delivers advanced simulations that power mission-critical training for over 60 militaries and more than 300 industry partners around the world. Their flagship product, VBS4, is a comprehensive whole-earth simulation platform that supports immersive training at every level—from individual desktop-based drills to large-scale, integrated live-virtual-constructive environments.

BISim’s suite of interconnected products extends beyond VBS4, enabling seamless integration into combat vehicles, aircraft, JTAC systems, and virtual sand tables. Whether preparing for mission rehearsal, operational execution, or multi-domain training, BISim delivers scalable, customizable solutions that bring realism, interoperability, and efficiency to any scenario.

The Perfect Marriage for the Future of Training

BISim and Varjo have built a strong, multi-year partnership rooted in collaboration and innovation, combining BISim’s advanced simulation software with Varjo’s industry-leading immersive hardware. Varjo’s high-fidelity headsets deliver unmatched realism, while BISim’s advanced simulation technology seamlessly integrates across training systems, enabling a fluid, immersive experience. Together, they create training environments that support mission readiness with precision and efficiency.

“As a company, we’re always pushing graphical boundaries and investing heavily into our technology. The Varjo XR-4 allows us to showcase our advancements at the highest level,” says Oliver Arup, Chief Technology Officer at BISim.

The Varjo headsets and BISim software work together seamlessly to deliver one of the most advanced synthetic training solutions available today. Whether recreating the cockpit of an aircraft, the interior of an armored vehicle, or the complexities of a tactical mission, this combination provides defense forces with a new standard for realistic, effective, and scalable training without leaving the safety of a virtual environment.

”To interface essentially immersive virtual simulations with physical hardware—the marriage is perfect,” says Rahul C. Thakkar, President of Bohemia Interactive Simulations.

FIGHTER PILOTS

Mastering the F-18 Cockpit

Take training an F-18 fighter pilot, for example. Using the Varjo headset’s mixed reality passthrough in combination with VBS4, pilots can practice essential procedures, navigate checklists, and interact with physical controls that are precisely where they would be in the actual aircraft.

This blend of virtual and real-world interaction helps with developing muscle memory and ensures that pilots can seamlessly transition from simulation to live operations. They’ll instinctively know where each button, switch, and lever is located, which is crucial for high-pressure scenarios where every second counts.

SAND TABLE

A Digital Battlefield for Smarter Planning and Safer Missions

Another powerful example of BISim’s new advanced XR integration is the use of sand table simulations for mission planning. Traditionally, a platoon sergeant would sketch out an operational area in the dirt, manually recreating terrain features to brief their unit before a patrol. Now, with the XR solution, that same planning process becomes a hyper-realistic, data-driven experience.

The sand table simulation acts as a command-and-control training tool, giving leaders a bird ’s-eye view of unfolding events while simultaneously allowing them to practice issuing precise orders that will ultimately save lives and resources. Controllers can walk their teams through the exact terrain they will encounter in real-world operations, analyzing potential threats, planning logistics, and optimizing troop movements. Soldiers can experience the mission virtually before ever stepping outside the wire to ensure they are fully prepared for what lies ahead.

This approach could also extend beyond the battlefield. In emergency response scenarios, such as a rapidly spreading wildfire, commanders can use the virtual sand table to assess the environment in real-time. By viewing a digital twin of the affected area, they can instantly locate water sources, direct helicopters to optimal water pickup points, and coordinate firefighting efforts more efficiently.

ACV OPERATORS

Realistic Training for Amphibious Combat Vehicle Operators

Similarly, the solution can unlock new types of training for amphibious combat vehicle (ACV) operators, one of the most challenging and dangerous roles in the Marine Corps. In a high-stakes beach landing scenario, a single misstep can mean disaster, with waves capsizing the ACV before it reaches shore. According to BISim, for 40 years, this has been one of the most complex training challenges in the industry—one that XR simulation holds the potential to finally solve.

With BISim and Varjo’s combined XR technology, operators can now train in an environment that mirrors reality, allowing them to refine their skills in complete safety. The physical cockpit remains true to real-world design, while everything outside the vehicle—from ocean waves to AI-generated crew members—is dynamically simulated. The training experience is as immersive and situationally accurate as possible, enabling military personnel to train effectively and confidently for real-world missions.

360° Immersion and Real-World Readiness

Real-world training is essential—as BISim’s Rahul C. Thakkar puts it, “there’s nothing more real than the real world”. But it’s also expensive, logistically complex, and, in some cases, dangerous. Going into the field not knowing how to use a very difficult to use piece of hardware comes with inherent risks that synthetic training can help minimize.

“Back in the day, synthetic training was good to have. Now I believe it is fundamentally necessary to get started,” Thakkar says. “It allows you to learn without facing the dangers of the hardware that you’re going to learn with.”

XR technology also offers unmatched portability and cost efficiency compared to traditional training setups like massive dome systems or fixed-location simulators. While physical dome environments provide a sense of immersion, they come with high overhead costs, space constraints, and logistical challenges. In contrast, Varjo’s XR-4 headset offers a high-resolution, ultra-wide field of view that creates the same level of immersion without the infrastructure burden. “With the head-mounted display, putting it on is essentially a 360° dome on your head,” says Kevin Killoran, Integration Engineer at BISim.

When trainees put on the Varjo XR-4 headset and step into a BISim-powered simulation, they are instantly transported into an environment that feels so real they naturally interact with it as if it were physical. “Having a wide field of view, such as you find in the Varjo XR-4, really improves immersion. It feels so natural that you’re absorbed instantly,” says Oliver Arup.

Synchronized Training for a More Prepared Tomorrow

According to Thakkar, the future of virtual and mixed-reality training lies in seamlessly bridging the gap between live, virtual, and constructive training environments. Historically, these domains have somewhat operated in silos, but the demand for ubiquitous, collective training is driving a shift where immersive simulations become an integral part of every training exercise. “I truly feel that products like VBS and Varjo’s technologies are going to make it worthwhile for our consumers to achieve the level of training they need,” Thakkar says.

This transformation isn’t just about individual proficiency; it’s about team-based, synchronized training that mirrors real-world operations. “The bridge between what is done at an individual level and what is done at a collective level has to be built. There is a gap there,” notes Thakkar. “That’s where the world is going, and I see that taking shape in the next two to three years. And we are making it happen, thanks to Varjo.”

“Back in the day, synthetic training was good to have. Now I believe it is fundamentally necessary.” Rahul C. Thakkar - President of Bohemia Interactive Simulations