Rheinmetall and Varjo join forces to accelerate defense readiness with mixed reality training solutions
November 25, 2025 – Helsinki, Finland / Düsseldorf, Germany – Rheinmetall, a leader in defense and security technologies and Varjo, the leader in military-grade mixed reality (XR), today announced a strategic collaboration to integrate Varjo’s technology into Rheinmetall’s deployable virtual land training systems, addressing the urgent need to scale training capacity across Europe and NATO. The partnership will entail equipping Rheinmetall’s modular driving and weapons simulation systems with Varjo XR-4 Series headsets, enabling forces to train more troops in more locations, at a pace that matches current security demands.
“Nations need to strengthen their defense capabilities faster than ever before, and training is at the heart of that mission,” said Bartek Panasewicz, VP Training Systems Land at Rheinmetall Electronics. “Mixed reality gives us the flexibility to train large numbers of soldiers where they are needed, without compromising on the quality or realism of the experience. Varjo’s industry-leading XR technology, combined with Rheinmetall’s top-of-the-line simulators, allows soldiers to scale realistic, high-fidelity training anywhere from central bases to temporary training sites. We are proud to partner with Varjo in accelerating NATO’s defense readiness.”
As armed forces expand and fleets grow, the ability to deploy training systems to different locations and reconfigure them quickly has become critical. Rheinmetall’s driving simulators can be transported and set up in the field, with cockpit inserts swapped in minutes to replicate different vehicles. With the integration of Varjo’s mixed reality, physical and synthetic elements can be combined seamlessly in a single training environment. Crews can operate with real hardware while immersed in realistic virtual terrains, replicating the conditions they will face in operations. This enables achieving the level of immersion required for effective operational training without relying on large, fixed-site simulators.
“Mixed reality provides a new edge for land training, accelerating preparedness at a fraction of the cost compared to traditional training methods,” said Valentin Storz, Chief Revenue Officer at Varjo. “By combining Rheinmetall’s high-fidelity simulators and our XR technology, forces can train with speed, mobility, and realism that matches today’s operational demands.”
Varjo’s recently refreshed mixed reality headsets, the XR-4 Series, deliver the highest-resolution visual fidelity, realistic passthrough vision, and advanced eye tracking capabilities for training across land, air, and sea. Instructors can assess how trainees interact with instruments, maintain situational awareness, and perform under simulated operational stress, creating a detailed performance picture that supports faster skill development.
Rheinmetall and Varjo will demonstrate joint training solutions at the Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference (I/ITSEC) in Orlando, Florida, on December 1-4, 2025, at booth #2301. The demo will feature an advanced XR truck driving simulator that enables forces to expand their training capacity with scalable, field-ready mixed reality technology.
Photo courtesy Rheinmetall
