This post is part of a series covering the 🇪🇺 European defence startup landscape. You can view the full interactive map with more than 60 startups here.
What is defence training & simulation?
This category includes startups that develop technologies, platforms, or environments for training military personnel, simulating battlefield conditions, or enhancing mission preparedness. These companies help armed forces train smarter, faster, and more cost-effectively using tools such as:
- Virtual reality and mixed reality environments: immersive worlds where soldiers can train safely in realistic combat scenarios.
- AI-driven simulation platforms: systems that use artificial intelligence to adapt scenarios and opponents based on trainee behavior.
- Digital twins for operational rehearsal: virtual replicas of real equipment or environments that allow forces to plan and practice missions.
- Performance analytics and mission debrief tools: software that tracks actions during training and provides feedback to improve decision making.
- Immersive training for equipment, tactics, or decision-making: interactive modules that help soldiers learn complex tasks and respond under pressure.
- Live virtual constructive integration: connected systems that blend real troops, simulated units, and computer-generated forces into one coordinated exercise.
This is the software and tech layer that prepares soldiers, pilots, and commanders for real-world operations.
Why it matters:
As modern warfare becomes more complex and tech enabled, simulation platforms allow militaries to train for high stress, high tech scenarios including drone operations, EW, cyber threats, and AI-assisted decision-making.
4 European Defence Startups in Training & Simulation
🇬🇧 UK – 💵 Seed
What they do:
- Create virtual reality training systems that help people practice and perform in complex or dangerous environments.
- Collect and analyse performance data from simulations to measure skills and decision making.
- Work with defence forces and industrial clients to improve readiness and safety.
How they differentiate:
- Combine immersive simulation with real data analysis to go beyond visual training.
- Provide continuous feedback that helps teams improve performance over time.
- Serve both defence and commercial sectors, which broadens their use cases and learning base.
🇬🇧 UK
What they do:
- Build mobile target systems that move along ropes to create realistic training for soldiers and law enforcement.
- Their platforms can be controlled remotely or run automatically to simulate moving threats.
- Used for live-fire and tactical training in both indoor and outdoor environments.
How they differentiate:
- Bring motion and unpredictability to shooting practice, making training more realistic.
- Offer simple and durable systems that can be set up quickly in many locations.
- Founded by defence professionals who design equipment based on real operational needs.
🇫🇷 Fra
What they do:
- Develop software components and complete simulation solutions for armed forces to prepare for engagement.
- Provide mixed reality training, tactical platform connectivity, and artificial intelligence tools for future readiness, operational training, and mission support.
How they differentiate:
- Combine mixed reality, platform connectivity, and AI to address training needs across air / land / sea domains.
- Offer highly configurable simulators that adapt to different vehicle types (drones, fixed wing, rotary wing) and mission profiles.
- Founded in France with a focus on agility and innovation, backed by a strategic investment from a major defence group.
🇬🇧 UK
What they do:
- Develop immersive training systems and simulation technologies for defence organisations.
- Create virtual and mixed reality environments designed to transform how personnel train and make decisions.
- Serve UK defence clients with tailored consultancy, simulation design and delivery of high-tech training experiences.
How they differentiate:
- Focus-first on defence training rather than general entertainment or consumer VR.
- Combine technical simulation expertise with defence operational understanding to build realistic and relevant experiences.
- Offer end-to-end solutions from design through deployment, enabling faster adoption by armed forces.