BISim’s VBS4 selected for US Army GFT

Image courtesy BISim

The GFT programme, originally established in 2013, provides the Army with a persistent and flexible simulation capability to support mission rehearsal, tactical training and leadership development across the operational, institutional and self-development domains. 

BISim has been a core GFT programme partner since 2009, first fielding VBS2 and transitioning to VBS3 in 2014 and securing a five-year enterprise license contract in 2022.

“Upgrading to VBS4 allows us to take full advantage of the latest advancements in virtual game training technology,” said David Perez, US Army GFT programme manager. “Our mission is to ensure soldiers are trained and ready for the complexities of the modern battlefield. With VBS4, we’re delivering a flexible, immersive game platform that supports the Army’s push for leaner, more lethal formations and the rapid integration of emerging technologies into training.”

Used across more than 80 simulation centers, schoolhouses and home-station training sites, the GFT programme is the most widely fielded game-based training capability in the Army. VBS4 builds on that foundation, providing a low-overhead solution that supports everything from individual and squad training to mission command and staff exercises.

“Supporting the US Army’s vision for modernising its training enterprise reflects a longstanding partnership built on trust, adaptability, and a shared commitment to innovation,” said Pete Morrison, chief product officer at BISim. “This upgrade provides tools that help prepare warriors for the missions of today and the challenges of tomorrow.”

As the Army enters the third option year of its current GFT contract, the transition to VBS4 reflects continuing Army game training goals. This upgrade brings an array of new capabilities to the GFT enterprise, including an enhanced graphics engine, improved networking and performance, a streamlined user interface and access to a powerful whole-earth terrain server—enabling more realistic, scalable and adaptable virtual training environments.