June 17, 2025 | Lincoln, UK
Recent developments in defence and security—from autonomous drone systems to underwater threat detection and laser air defence—are signalling a decisive shift in how modern forces must train for operational readiness. Agincourt’s weekly review highlights these trends and their implications for military and law enforcement training worldwide.
Underwater Robotics Strengthen Maritime Defence
The UK’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) has unveiled a new underwater Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV), which has been tested across Portsmouth and South Wales. Equipped with real-time sonar and live video feed capabilities, the system is designed to detect and neutralise submerged threats such as mines and structural sabotage devices.
Training Implication:
The evolution of subsea systems calls for immersive synthetic training that replicates underwater threat scenarios, including EOD and port security missions. Platforms like BattleVR are ideally suited to simulate these complex, low-visibility operations—without the cost or risk of live deployments.
VTOL Drones Expand Tactical Reach in South Asia
India’s Solar Defence & Aerospace completed test flights of its Rudrastra hybrid VTOL UAV, capable of precision strikes at a range of 170 km. With high endurance and tactical flexibility, this system reflects the growing role of multi-mission drones in border surveillance and precision engagement.
Agincourt Response:
Synthetic training environments must now accommodate fast-moving, low-altitude threats. Agincourt’s Hawk command interface already integrates drone-threat simulation into battlefield scenarios, supporting both Red Team training and Blue Team command decision-making.
Laser Air Defence Becomes a Tactical Reality
Russia has successfully trialled a mobile laser-based air defence system capable of engaging small UAVs across different terrains and weather conditions. The deployment supports Russia’s goal of reducing its dependency on kinetic munitions in counter-UAS roles.
Why It Matters:
Laser systems present new tactical and procedural variables for NATO-aligned forces. Training must evolve to include laser countermeasure engagement, optical tracking procedures, and drone swarm analysis—scenarios that can be rapidly prototyped in Agincourt’s BattleVR and Hawk platforms.
Cyber Threats Reinforce the Case for Secure, Auditable Simulation
In parallel to kinetic tech advancements, cyber risks have remained front and centre. Microsoft’s June patch cycle included fixes for 66 vulnerabilities, including the CVE-2025-33053 exploit in WebDAV, which is currently being used in active cyberattacks.
BlueVoyant, a leader in cyber risk management, has also announced the rollout of Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) integration, providing visibility into supply chain dependencies and third-party vulnerabilities.
Operational Relevance:
With simulation platforms increasingly connected to shared networks and national infrastructures, cyber assurance is no longer negotiable. Agincourt’s HERALD and KeepBox platforms deliver end-to-end encrypted audit trails, real-time environmental monitoring, and MOD-certified cybersecurity compliance.
Infrastructure Protection and ICS/OT Threats: A Growing Concern
Industrial control system vendors Schneider Electric, Siemens, and Aveva all issued urgent vulnerability patches last week—underscoring the fragility of critical infrastructure used in live training ranges and operations centres.
Agincourt’s training systems—including the Swift robotic range target and Archer marksmanship platforms—are engineered with physical separation protocols, encrypted telemetry, and localised deployment options, ensuring operational continuity even under cyber duress.
The Strategic Picture: What Defence Leaders Need to Know
What ties these developments together is the growing complexity and integration of modern warfare systems—air, land, sea, and cyber —enabling a more comprehensive approach to warfare. This complexity cannot be matched with outdated training models.
Agincourt’s modular suite of synthetic training platforms has been purpose-built to meet these modern requirements:
- BattleVR for close-quarters combat (CQB) and force-on-force tactical simulation
- Archer for scalable marksmanship and judgemental use-of-force decision training
- Hawk for immersive command and control of battlefield operations
- Herald for fully auditable training records and CPD compliance
- Swift for mobile robotic target systems supporting live-fire realism
Each system is interoperable, secure, and designed for deployment across domestic, expeditionary, and partner-nation forces.
Defence Clients Are Already Acting
Whether training Royal Guard units in Morocco, Special Forces in Oman, or UK police firearms teams, the shift to virtual, augmented, and mixed-reality training is already underway.
Agincourt is supporting military and law enforcement partners across the UK, Europe, the Gulf, and North Africa with next-generation training environments that match the operational threats of 2025 and beyond.
To learn more or arrange a demonstration of our synthetic training platforms, contact the Agincourt team today.
