The U.S. Army has selected Virtual Battlespace 4 (VBS4) for deployment across its Games for Training (GFT) program, marking a significant upgrade to the service’s most widely fielded virtual training system, according to a press release from Bohemia Interactive Simulations (BISim), a subsidiary of BAE Systems.
The decision follows a contract modification enabling the rollout of VBS4, which will replace the current VBS3 platform in use since 2014. The GFT program, established in 2013, provides mission rehearsal, tactical training, and leadership development through game-based simulation at over 80 locations, including schoolhouses, simulation centres, and home-station sites.
“Upgrading to VBS4 allows us to take full advantage of the latest advancements in virtual game training technology,” said David Perez, U.S. Army GFT program manager. “Our mission is to ensure soldiers are trained and ready for the complexities of the modern battlefield.”
VBS4 introduces an enhanced graphics engine, streamlined user interface, and a global terrain server designed to support more realistic and scalable training scenarios. It also improves networking and performance across distributed training environments.
BISim’s chief product officer Pete Morrison stated that the move to VBS4 strengthens a long-standing relationship with the Army. “This upgrade provides tools that help prepare warriors for the missions of today and the challenges of tomorrow,” he said.
The transition to VBS4 comes as the Army enters the third option year of its five-year enterprise license agreement with BISim, signed in 2022. The new platform is intended to support the Army’s goals for leaner, more adaptive formations and the integration of emerging technologies into training environments.
