On Tuesday, April 14, 2026, Finnish company Varjo Technologies Oyj, a leader in military-grade virtual and mixed reality (VR/XR), announced a strategic partnership with Ireland’s VRAI, a simulation data company and a leader in human performance analytics, aimed at transforming the way military personnel are trained.
Photos: Varjo Technologies Oyj
As Varjo emphasizes, today’s armed forces face a growing challenge: the demand to train more personnel more quickly is increasing, while traditional live training is costly and constrained by the availability of instructors and military equipment. The collaboration between Varjo and VRAI is intended to address this issue directly by combining Varjo’s secure virtual and mixed reality technology with VRAI’s biometric data and human performance analytics. The result is a comprehensive, intelligent training platform that combines immersive simulation with real-time human performance data, developed specifically for the needs of modern military training.
For the first time, instructors will be able to see not only what happened during a scenario, but also what is affecting the performance of the individuals or crews taking part in the training. VRAI’s technology can capture metrics such as cognitive load, physiological stress, and shifts in attention. Equipped with this data, an instructor can intervene earlier, provide more precise feedback, and make training decisions that were previously out of reach.
As part of the partnership, VRAI will become an authorized distributor of Varjo technology, while Varjo will offer VRAI’s HEAT software to its customers. Starting in May 2026, all Varjo customers will be able to use an entry-level version of HEAT’s data capture and visualization features directly within their existing simulation environments. This will be showcased at the IT2EC 2026 (International Training Technology Exhibition & Conference), which opened today in London.
“The world has changed, and how we train our personnel has to change with it,” said Pat O’Connor, CEO and co-founder of VRAI. “We have seen how our customers in Ireland have combined Varjo and HEAT solutions to transform how they deliver armor crew training, and this partnership is how we bring this solution to defense customers at scale. We are empowering instructors with actionable insights into what is driving performance, and Varjo’s technology is a big part of why we can do that.”
“We built immersive simulation technology to put people inside scenarios that matter, and VRAI tells you exactly what happened to them when they got there. Together, we can deliver training that gets smarter with every session, because each one generates data that makes the next one better,” said Valentin Storz, Chief Revenue Officer at Varjo.
VRAI’s HEAT platform treats human performance data as an untapped source of insight. Using Varjo’s eye-tracking technology and integrated biometric monitors, the software can capture what happens during a simulation – heart rate, eye movement, control inputs, and communications – and display it on a dashboard in near real time. Varjo’s precise eye tracking enables HEAT to calculate cognitive load, giving instructors a physiological view of how a trainee experienced a scenario, what actually affected their performance, and not just what they did.
The partnership builds on earlier joint deployments with customers such as Germany’s Rheinmetall AG and the Irish Defence Forces, where armored vehicle crews train weekly using Varjo XR headsets, HEAT software, and integrated heart-rate monitors. The training has been scaled up without increasing the burden on instructors, and the instructor-to-trainee ratio has improved from around 1:3 to 1:12. The data generated is shaping training outcomes in Ireland and building a knowledge base that can be used in crew training programs worldwide.
Both companies will present their joint solutions at ITEC in London, scheduled to run through April 16, at Varjo’s M40 booth. Varjo and VRAI will also host flagship demonstration events in Munich, Helsinki, Dublin, Arlington, and Orlando.
The gap between simulation and insight is closing.
Varjo and @vraisimulation are partnering to combine high-fidelity virtual and mixed reality technology and human performance analytics, giving military instructors a real-time view of what is driving trainee performance.
We are… pic.twitter.com/gyYrlcFcFK
— Varjo (@varjodotcom) April 14, 2026
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