How the Slovenian Armed Forces Are Driving Operational Readiness with VR/XR, Powered by Varjo and AFormX
The XR military flight simulators delivered to the Slovenian Armed Forces are redefining what's possible in tactical aviation training.
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VR/XR for Military Training
What are the benefits of VR/XR in military training?
Implementing VR in military training provides a suite of strategic advantages:
- Reduce the cost of training by up to 99%+ with low-cost, immersive learning environments to replace or supplement traditional training solutions
- Increase training velocity and enable more trainees to become proficient in less time by using XR and VR training tactics
- Optimize user engagement with a solution where trainees want to engage in and repeat exercises
- Increase the value of existing part-task simulators with full field of view, immersive visuals using mixed reality technology
- Reduce travel time and costs by training at the point of need, thanks to portability and reduced simulator size
- Train effectively for the most dangerous scenarios in a completely safe immersive environment
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Air Force & Aviation Training
Pilot simulation and flight crew readiness: VR and XR are used by defence forces and aviation partners worldwide to support flight simulation, procedural training, and tactical mission rehearsal. For aerospace training, realism and the seamless alignment of physical and virtual elements is crucial for eliminating negative training risks. Pilots need to be able to interact naturally with panels, HOTAS systems, and crew members.
Multiple studies confirm the effectiveness of VR/XR in flight training. For example, Embry‑Riddle University found that among 58 student pilots, adding VR cut the time to first solo flight by about 30%. Similarly, the U.S. Air Force reports that after VR adoption in flight training, students reached solo about 10 flights earlier than the old approach with traditional classes.
Virtual and mixed reality are already being in used in multiple aviation and defense programs. Read more about how Lufthansa is accelerating aviation training with VR or how the Slovenian Armed Forces are using VR/XR to drive operational readiness.
Land Operations & Crew Training
Infantry, vehicle crews, and tactical teams benefit from VR in military training applied to:
- Immersive vehicle crew operations, replicating tactical scenarios with real controls and simulator rigs.
- Weapons & gunnery exercises, allowing soldiers to rehearse engagements and team coordination.
- Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) simulation, where trainees operate physical interfaces within virtual battlegrounds.
Collaborations with partners such as Rheinmetall have further extended VR training to modular vehicle simulators that can be deployed in field conditions, supporting scalable force preparation without heavy fixed infrastructure.
Sea and Naval Training
Integrating VR in military training with maritime and naval operations enhances readiness for bridge navigation, seamanship, and small-boat maneuvers, enabling crews to rehearse essential procedures in immersive simulations that mirror the reality of life at sea.
Key maritime use areas include:
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Bridge operations: Teams practice navigation, watchkeeping, and emergency response in high-fidelity XR environments that reflect real maritime conditions.
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Small craft handling: Crews refine fast boat handling, boarding drills, and tactical movements under realistic pressure.
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Weapons systems training: Naval weapons crews train on guns, missile systems, and fire-control procedures in immersive environments, building proficiency without live fire risks or munitions expenses.
Read more about FORCE Technology achieved up to thousand-fold cost reductions when replacing traditional maritime simulators with portable VR/XR systems.
Our Customers
Read case study“Varjo is the best headset for high fidelity mixed reality applications with a large customer base in military.”
Ilkka Ruuskanen - Product Manager at Patria
Read case study"We're now at the forefront of advancing XR technology beyond labs and training environments, and driving it into mission-critical and operational use cases."
Geoffrey Bund - CEO at Headwall
Read case study“The development of XR technologies offers new opportunities to provide more motivating and efficient training.”
Lieutenant Colonel Teemu Pöysti, Chief of Air Force Training
Read case study“Students transitioned seamlessly from simulator training to actual flying and significantly outperformed expectations on their initial flights.”
Lt. Col. Gregor Virant - Chief of Strategic Events and Policy at SAF
Read case study“Varjo brings us the cutting-edge technology needed to achieve better resolution in our simulations.”
Xavier Rabillard, Head of HMI for Simulators, Dassault Aviation
Read case study“I think this is a game changer for the industry. I think that mixed reality eventually is going to be the standard utilized for JTAC sims.”
Andrew Rigato - Mission Systems Operator & TAPC JTAC
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Tailored VR hardware for Defense
Varjo XR-4 Secure Edition
The XR-4 Secure Edition is the world’s most advanced mixed reality headset for simulation, allowing real-world and virtual elements to be blended together seamlessly for highly effective and cost-efficient training scenarios. Assembled in state-of-the-art facilities in Finland, it is both certified and optimized for secure environments.
Ultimate security and precision in mixed reality.
3840 x 3744 resolution
120° x 105° field of view
Assembled in Finland
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