Expodefensa 2025 – The Colombian Cavalry says Present!

At Expodefensa 2025 the Colombian Army Cavalry School (ESCAB) showcased one of its developments in science, technology, and innovation: the 40-50 Turret Simulator for the Cadillac Gage M-1117 ASV (Armoured Security Vehicle). The project is called VESTA, which stands for Virtual Environment for Soldier Training Assessment

This simulator is a gamified and immersive virtual reality system. Two Colombian Army officers assigned to the Cavalry School presented this exciting high-tech project to visitors.

We had the opportunity to try it out, and the experience was fascinating. The virtual reality headset certainly creates the sensation of being inside the vehicle, in the turret. All the buttons and indicators are visible, as well as the periscopes that allow to see outside. The simulation replicates the player’s hands, allowing to activate buttons and operate cranks to aim the turret and elevate the weapons.

Once in position and with the virtual reality headset on and following clear and simple instructions from the aforementioned young officers, we quickly became operators of M-1117 turret 40-50: a virtual button powered the turret, two cranks adjusted the aim and elevation, a button selected the weapon to fire, and a small joystick fired at targets visible through the periscopes.

At the end of this brief immersive experience, for a few seconds your brain believes you are actually inside the vehicle, and you wonder how you will get out, until the headset is removed, and you return to reality. While not an expert in this type of simulator, I can offer a favourable assessment of the experience and the quality of the simulation’s graphics. My brain became familiar with the turret’s interior and how it works. I truly believe I could replicate it in a real turret, if it’s identical to the simulated one, which it obviously must be.

In this way, the operators of these turrets, crew members of the Colombian National Army’s M-1117s, can train for hours, firing at different virtual targets, both fixed and moving, expending thousands of virtual ammunitions, improving their operational efficiency at minimal cost.

It’s worth mentioning that a little over 10 years ago, the High Technology Corporation (CODALTEC, an entity attached to the Colombian Ministry of Defence) created a simulator for the M-1117 armoured vehicle, which allows for the training of drivers and operators of the basic, gondola-type turret, without a top cover and carrying a single weapon (40 or 50). Some of the Colombian M-1117s are fitted with the gondola-type turret, while others have the 40-50 round turret.

These simulators are constantly being improved and are available for sale to friendly governments that own the M-1117 armoured vehicle, allowing them to reduce costs and optimize the training of their crews.

Photo by D. Hernández