BAE Systems announced that its subsidiary OneArc has been awarded a five-year contract to upgrade the Italian Army’s virtual training systems.
Under the deal, the army will migrate from older VBS3-based platforms to VBS4, OneArc’s advanced simulation and mission rehearsal software. The program also includes the deployment of Mantle, a sophisticated terrain-generation tool designed to produce highly realistic digital environments.
The modernization package encompasses new training workstations, upgraded fire-support integration capabilities, and enhanced tools for designing and managing digital operational scenarios.
Virtual simulation plays a key role in preparing Italian Army personnel, supporting mission and procedural training for armored crews, aviation units, artillery teams, snipers, and Joint Terminal Attack Controllers. The system upgrade is intended to safeguard continuity in training while improving overall performance, enabling more complex cross-domain scenarios, and advancing terrain modeling precision.
It will also ensure compatibility with NATO partners that employ similar simulation platforms for joint exercises and mission rehearsal.
Next-Generation Simulation Tools
VBS4 is a desktop-based virtual training solution that delivers immersive and realistic military scenarios within a comprehensive digital environment.
Users can conduct training across global locations using a built-in terrain database supplemented by procedural enhancements. The platform features intuitive terrain-editing tools, allowing instructors and planners to customize environments without requiring advanced geospatial expertise.
Following each exercise, the system generates detailed after-action reviews, with sessions replayable in 2D or 3D from multiple perspectives. Performance data is automatically captured to aid evaluation and improvement.
Mantle works alongside VBS4 to simplify digital terrain creation and administration. It enables rapid generation, modification, and deployment of realistic environments by both technical and non-technical personnel.
Through automated processes—such as extracting building data from satellite imagery or assigning vegetation based on biome characteristics—Mantle reduces development time and costs, minimizes reliance on specialists, and supports swift updates aligned with evolving operational demands.
