In Riga, Latvia, a recent military training exercise unfolded not on live terrain but within a sophisticated virtual environment replicating real city streets, including Lāčplēša Street, a bustling thoroughfare lined with shops and pharmacies. The simulation featured a Nato convoy navigating the area when a tank was struck and erupted in flames, prompting nearby digital pedestrians—modeled to reflect Riga’s diverse population—to scatter, exhibiting varied reactions based on their simulated attitudes toward Nato forces.

This exercise was developed by Skyral, a UK-based company that is part of a consortium awarded a £2 billion contract by the British Ministry of Defence to enhance army training through advanced simulation technologies. These virtual platforms aim to provide complex, layered models of urban settings and broader operational environments, enabling soldiers and commanders to assess the cascade of consequences resulting from tactical decisions.

Skyral’s approach stands apart from traditional military video games by integrating detailed behavioral and environmental data to more accurately depict real-world dynamics. For instance, the simulation accounts for how a missile strike’s impact on a city street leads to civilian displacement, or how damage to critical infrastructure like power stations alters civilian sheltering patterns in harsh winter conditions. The company describes its system as creating “digital twins” of actual locations and operational theaters, a concept that originated in manufacturing to predict equipment wear and has since expanded into military and other fields to replicate and analyze complex scenarios.

While empirical research directly linking these advanced simulations to improved soldier performance remains limited, precedent from flight simulation training suggests virtual environments can significantly enhance real-world operational readiness. Practical considerations also favour simulation-based training due to cost efficiency and safety when compared to live combat exercises. The UK’s decision to integrate these technologies reflects ongoing discussions about defence spending priorities amid evolving geopolitical threats.

Alongside Skyral, other firms such as Power Size Technologies (PST), based in Royal Leamington Spa, are developing complementary simulation tools for military use. PST focuses on virtual models of energy systems, including batteries and renewable energy equipment, to assist armed forces in optimizing logistics and equipment electrification. PST’s chief executive, Wiktor Dotter, emphasized that these simulations allow decision-makers to explore options like deploying solar panels in remote locations without the expense or risk of field trials.

Together, these emerging technologies represent a shift toward more data-driven, multifaceted military training and operational planning, enabling armed forces to better anticipate the interconnected effects of tactical and logistical decisions in both combat and humanitarian contexts.