Varjo to deliver XR technology for Ukrainian Armed Forces training

The Ukrainian Armed Forces will be receiving new extended reality (XR) training systems as part of a Nordic defence technology initiative led by Norwegian company Fynd Reality, with Varjo selected as the XR technology provider.

The programme aims to address limited access to operational vehicles by delivering immersive training ahead of deployment.

Fynd Reality, which has worked with the Ukrainian military for over three years, is deploying its software alongside Varjo’s XR-4 Secure Edition headsets in Ukraine.

The current rollout covers familiarisation, procedural instruction, and maintenance training across several vehicle types, including the Leopard 2 A4 main battle tank.

All operational vehicles remain in use on the front lines, restricting soldiers’ ability to train on actual equipment before deployment. This situation has created challenges in preparing personnel and maintaining operational readiness.

The XR-based solution enables comprehensive preparation without requiring physical access to vehicles.

The systems are being supplied through Norway’s Nansen Program under a contract with the Norwegian Defense Material Agency (NDMA).

The project is valued at Nkr82.5m ($8.5m), with an initial delivery of 39 XR systems to Ukraine.

Following deployment, Ukrainian partners will develop additional training content locally to support both immediate and long-term needs within the armed forces.

Varjo said that its XR technology was chosen because of its security features.

The company produces devices specifically for secure environments and meets the “highest security standards”.

By working with Fynd Reality, Varjo’s XR hardware will be used in training platforms that meet defence requirements for security and scalability.

Varjo CEO Timo Toikkanen said: “XR training is solving a real operational challenge in Ukraine, where access to vehicles and safe training environments is severely limited. Varjo’s technology is built for mission-critical training use cases where security, reliability, and visual accuracy are paramount.

“Together with Fynd Reality, we can actively help accelerate and scale training for Ukrainian soldiers heading to the front lines.”

Fynd Reality has supported virtual defence training in Ukraine since 2023. While only some personnel receive full armoured vehicle instruction, many more operate alongside units in active combat zones.

The Fynd CORE platform provides multi-user, scenario-based XR training that does not require physical vehicles.

Fynd Reality CEO Knut Henrik Aas said: “We are providing Ukraine with a novel training capability that has already been validated in NATO environments and adapted to meet Ukraine’s operational requirements.”