Varjo Increases Finnish Manufacturing to Meet XR Defence Demand
Varjo, a premiere supplier of commercial virtual and mixed reality (VR/MR) remedies, has declared the inauguration of a new secure manufacturing location in the greater Helsinki area of Finland. The development enables Varjo to satisfy the growing need for its high-resolution extended reality (XR) technologies in defence instruction and simulation. The company has projected that the total addressable market for training simulations alone is expected to reach approximately USD $900 million by 2027.
The newly opened facility is fully staffed and equipped with secure production and warehouse areas, product and process development spaces, including reliability testing, and an audio development section. The creation of this secure production facility has been primarily motivated by increased interest from Varjo’s defence clientele and the business’s close partnership with Cole Engineering Services Inc. (CESI), the main supplier for the RVCT initiative of the U.S. Army.
The robust collaboration between Varjo and CESI has been crucial in advancing Varjo’s production capabilities. This facility ensures that Varjo can meet the stringent security requirements of its governmental clients while supporting the growing need for XR technology in the defence sector, according to Timo Toikkanen, CEO of Varjo.
Varjo’s XR technology is integral to the U.S. Army’s synthetic training programme, which offers soldiers fully immersive and realistic training environments where they can engage with physical controls in real time. In August 2023, Varjo was selected as the XR technology provider for the RVCT Air programme, enhancing portable training capabilities for Apache, Chinook, and Blackhawk helicopters.
Eric Carr, Program Director for RVCT at CESI, emphasised Varjo’s contribution to the RVCT programme. He highlighted Varjo’s ability to deliver mixed reality solutions with high-resolution visuals, meeting the stringent requirements of the defence sector. The Varjo XR-4 Secure Edition headsets provide high-resolution imagery for both mixed reality and synthetic environments, making them ideal for use in high-security settings due to their TAA-compliant manufacturing process.
Additionally, Major Brandon Dotson, Assistant Product Manager for the RVCT, acknowledged the significance of XR and VR in military training. He noted that the RVCT enables the simulation of complex scenarios like tank driving and helicopter flying, offering immersive training experiences that are crucial for soldier preparedness. Historically, such training required large facilities and extensive contractor support, but the RVCT has streamlined the process, making training more accessible to soldiers at all levels.
Varjo has reiterated its commitment to advancing XR technology for evolving defence use cases, including training for Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTACs) and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operators. This dedication is further strengthened by the establishment of the secure manufacturing facility in Finland.
For more details on Varjo’s XR solutions for defence training and simulation, visit the company’s website.
