What is a Synthetic Environment Training (STE)? STE aims to enhance live with virtual digital training to create hybrid exercises that are risk-free, accessible and repeatable, yet becoming closer than ever to ‘the real thing’. The STE combine and makes use of virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), Mixed Reality (MR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) as well as emerging and developing technologies to create rich virtual environments that can be bolstered by real-world assets. When elements of the military, law enforcement, Security and commercial organisations are exercised in a virtual (a simulation involving real people operating simulated systems) environment without having the expense of deploying costly live assets such as aerial fixed-wing, unmanned, and rotary-wing aircraft. This gives the distinct advantage of undertaking training exercises in multiple scenarios, team leaders or duly authorised persons are put under simulated pressure to manage a crisis or major incident, make the correct informed decisions, and take decisive actions in a simulated environment.

Standard operating policies, training objectives and procedures can be regularly and safely rehearsed to deliver the desired exercise effect. Large-scale multi-agency training exercises can be undertaken for a fraction of the cost of a full deployment or by drawing upon assets and resources into a live training exercise. To achieve and enable the full cross-spectrum training delivery cycle, it is essential that simulated Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) support can be provided, so that the decision-making process can be tested and honed to the fullest extent.