XR Counter-UAS Simulator Expands Ukrainian Military Training

Varjo has expanded its support for the Ukrainian Armed Forces with the delivery of an XR simulator designed to train soldiers for counter-drone operations.

Developed by Australian technology company Applied Virtual Simulation in direct response to the Ukraine War, the Horizon Guardian counter-UAS simulator is integrated with the Varjo XR-4 Series headset. The training scenario involves one trainee flying a first-person-view drone while another attempts to neutralize it with a firearm.

According to Varjo, drones now account for 70% to 80% of casualties in Ukraine. Horizon Guardian is designed to recreate the pressure, sound, and pace experienced by soldiers operating on the frontline.

The simulator is currently undergoing trials with the Australian Defence Forces and is also being used in Ukraine to train soldiers for drone warfare. Its development builds on Varjo’s wider work to strengthen the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ training capacity through immersive simulation.

Scaling military training in Ukraine has been challenged by limited access to physical equipment and safe training environments. High-fidelity synthetic environments have therefore become important for maintaining continuity, improving readiness, and building familiarity with complex systems.

Earlier this year, Varjo announced that, through its partnership with Fynd Reality and as part of Norway’s Nansen Program, 39 XR training systems had been delivered to Ukraine. These systems provide multi-user scenario-based familiarisation, procedural, and maintenance training across a range of land vehicles, including the Leopard 2A4 tank.

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

Varjo has also supported Ukrainian aviation training. In 2024, the company worked with Czech firm Dogfight Boss to deliver a complete F-16 mixed-reality cockpit simulator to Ukraine, accompanied by a Varjo XR-4 Series headset. The system enables early-stage pilot training to take place in-country and allows pilots to rehearse complex manoeuvres, operations, and repeatable training scenarios.

Timo Toikkanen, CEO of Varjo, commented, “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. 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 will showcase all three simulator platforms currently in use in Ukraine at Eurosatory in Paris, France, from 15 to 19 June in Hall 6, booth A75.