Under the agreement, the Danish Army will adopt several technologies including VBS4, VBS Builder Edition, Blue IG, TerraTools Platinum, as well as software maintenance and on-site training services. The system will provide an integrated platform for virtual training and simulation across multiple operational scenarios.
The upgrade builds on the Danish Army’s long-standing use of the VBS3 simulation platform. It also reflects Denmark’s increasing focus on virtual training for mission rehearsal, course-of-action development and strategic force design.
OneArc’s integrated simulation technologies are used by more than 60 NATO and allied nations. According to the company, the system provides a scalable foundation designed to support both current and future training requirements.
“Denmark’s selection of OneArc’s suite of products represents a major investment in future-ready synthetic training,” said Rahul C. Thakkar, president of OneArc. “Upgrading to VBS4 delivers the realism, flexibility, and multi-domain integration required for modern readiness, while maintaining full backward compatibility with years of Danish Army simulation development.”
Thakkar added that the company values its long-standing cooperation with Denmark’s armed forces. “We are honored to continue supporting Denmark’s vision for a more interconnected, scalable and effective virtual training ecosystem.”
The agreement also supports the Nordic Defence Cooperation’s Vision 2030 initiative. The system is expected to enhance interoperability with regional partners including Sweden, Finland and Norway.
Colonel Thomas Øgendahl Knudsen, Head of the Land Division at the Danish Ministry of Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation, said the platform would improve training opportunities. “The system can contribute to a significant uplift in the Army’s level of training.”
He noted that the technology allows troops to practise a wide range of operational tasks in a controlled setting. “Soldiers can train both basic skills and complex operations in a safe, virtual environment, and that makes us more combat-ready.”
Knudsen also emphasised the relationship between virtual and real-world exercises. “There is no substitute for training in the real world. But by first rehearsing many scenarios virtually, we can save time and resources and get even more out of the physical exercises.”
According to BAE Systems, the upgrade will allow Denmark to take part more extensively in multinational exercises. It will also enable the Danish Army to use shared virtual assets and align its simulation architecture with other NATO and NORDEFCO partners.
Enterprise-level access to OneArc’s ecosystem is expected to support large-scale collective training and complex multi-domain scenarios. These capabilities are intended to improve readiness and strengthen cooperation among allied forces.
In a separate development, BAE Systems OneArc also secured a contract in December 2025 from the Italian Ministry of Defence to modernise the Italian Army’s virtual training environment. The five-year agreement introduces the VBS4 training system alongside Mantle, a high-fidelity terrain generation platform.
The upgrade replaces legacy VBS3-based systems with modernised simulation capabilities and new training workstations. It also includes advanced fires integration and next-generation terrain generation tools designed to enhance training realism.
The Italian Army uses virtual environments to support procedural training for armoured and aviation crews, fires operators, snipers and Joint Terminal Attack Controllers. The new system aims to ensure continuity of training while introducing improved fidelity, scalability and interoperability.
“This upgrade is a major step toward the Italian Army’s future-ready virtual training architecture,” said Rahul C. Thakkar. “With VBS4 and Mantle, Italy gains a foundation capable of supporting complex, multi-domain training, autonomous terrain generation and enhanced JTAC readiness — all aligned with evolving NATO standards.”
By transitioning to VBS4 and adopting Mantle, the Italian Army will be able to conduct advanced multi-weapon and multi-domain training exercises at scale. The system also ensures interoperability with NATO and allied partners that already rely on VBS4, Blue IG and Mantle technologies for mission rehearsal and collective training.
