Simulation & Digital Twin Infrastructure for Defence: Interoperable Environments for Testing, Training and Doctrine Development
The accelerating complexity of military operations across land, air, maritime, space and cyber domains necessitates the development of simulation and digital twin infrastructures capable of supporting realistic testing, training and doctrinal evolution. As defence systems become more interconnected, software-defined and reliant on emerging technologies such as autonomous systems, counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS), electronic warfare (EW) and high-power electromagnetics (HPM), conventional modelling approaches are no longer sufficient. The demand for persistent, high-fidelity and interoperable synthetic environments has grown significantly, driven by operational requirements, cost constraints and the imperative to reduce dependence on live trials. At the same time, strategic autonomy has emerged as a core concern for European nations, particularly in ensuring that simulation and digital twin platforms are not subject to vendor lock-in or external influence. In this context, digital twins—virtual representations of physical systems updated through real-time data—are increasingly recognised as key enablers for both capability development and sustainment. They allow defence actors to experiment with new doctrines, test novel system configurations and optimise logistics chains in controlled virtual settings. Yet despite this strategic relevance, Europe’s current simulation landscape remains fragmented, with limited interoperability and uneven adoption of shared standards.
This report provides a comprehensive, multi-layered analysis of the simulation and digital twin infrastructure landscape as it relates to European and allied defence ecosystems. Organised into ten thematic sections, the report begins by outlining the strategic rationale for simulation and digital twins in modern defence, before unpacking the conceptual and technical foundations of modelling and simulation (M&S), digital twins and their supporting architectures. It examines the structure and maturity of simulation platforms, middleware and data standards, and evaluates how these components interact to enable—or constrain—interoperability across national and domain boundaries. The report then maps the industrial and research ecosystems involved, with a particular focus on small and medium enterprises (SMEs), mid-caps and specialised vendors that are not part of traditional prime contractor networks. Subsequent sections analyse operational use cases, infrastructure bottlenecks, and the integration of enabling technologies such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing and game engines. Attention is also given to policy and programme-level frameworks, including NATO and EU initiatives, and national simulation strategies. To support practical application, the report includes downloadable structured tables designed as cognitive assets, covering strategic frameworks, technology stacks, industrial ecosystems, operational use cases and programme-level funding architectures, enabling readers to incorporate the findings directly into planning, procurement and analytical workflows.
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