DSET 2025 - Hard Lessons and New Challenges

The 10th annual Defence Simulation, Education and Training (DSET) event took place from 8–10 July 2025 at Ashton Gate Stadium, Bristol, UK. It has evolved into a significant gathering for the defence training and simulation sector, embracing related topics such as wargaming, and become a platform for wider defence themes such as cyber and servicewomen's networking. While it continues to grow in scale, the event remains focused on knowledge sharing, networking and building a collaborative community across military, academic, and industry sectors.

DSET was also the fourth fully hybrid event which for the organisers remains a core part of their accessibility and international engagement strategy and 1700 professionals were expected to attend in person or online. CPD-accredited content again featured, delivered through partnerships with universities including the UK’s Oxford Brookes and Bath Spa.

The event had an expanding scope, with new areas of focus. Engagement with Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) and emergency services saw increased participation, featuring two dedicated sessions led by professionals from these sectors. Space capabilities were also a prominent feature, with input from the UK Space Agency and Space Command. This year marked NATO’s most substantial involvement yet, with seven affiliated organisations. Furthermore, a stand for the UK’s Defence Modelling and Simulation Office (DMSO) was a first at a simulation-focused event. Conference themes reflected high-priority areas from the UK Strategic Defence Review, including AI and data, space, training and professional military education.

The atmosphere was collaborative and open, and the author felt that the conference content and discussions were the best in years with expert inciteful speakers, constructive open debate, and with less emphasis on government and industry PR statements.

Themes and Takeaways – Frontline Lessons, Data, and Innovation

One of the notable moments of DSET 2025 was the Ukrainian soldier briefing held on Day 2. Illustrated with sometimes harrowing photos and videos, “Juan’s” talk offered a raw and unfiltered account of frontline realities in Ukraine. He described enduring extreme field conditions, rotating in equal measure between trench combat and drone piloting with very little rest in cycles that carried on for months. As he put it, “we don’t get breaks. You fly drones, you fight, you sleep in the snow, then you do it again.” His account underscored how brutal and immediate the fighting is, describing nights spent in frozen trenches and the psychological toll of operating in environments where the frontline is measured in only 10s of metres.

Juan also critically observed a disconnect between Western procurement and frontline needs, noting that innovations often fail to reach soldiers because companies and governments do not adequately consult end-users. He urged that "battle-tested" should mean actual adoption and iteration with soldiers, not just experimentation.

Cybersecurity and data governance were prominent on the agenda. Participants agreed that data remains one of the biggest challenges, and opportunities, in modern defence. Chris Rolfs (Nova Systems) summed up a recurring issue: “We don't just need data. We need it to be discoverable, contextual and usable … it means data that is usable by someone who didn’t collect it.” Delegates noted that data often exists, but lacks structure, ownership, and accessibility. Weeks are sometimes spent recreating datasets that already exist but are poorly catalogued.

Winston Chang the Global Public Sector CTO for Snowflake, a global cloud-based data storage and analytics company, looked to the future claiming data will reshape “how governments and businesses make decisions, allocate resources, and respond to complex challenges.” However, Chang highlighted the darker side of data commenting that “access to data itself will become a critical form of power, wielded not only by states, but by a wild, wild range of non-state actors.”

Also looking to the future Wim Huiskamp (TNO/NMSG) introduced the concept of the “Digital Twin of the Mission Space.”  It envisions extracting real-time data from operational environments, feeding it into a digital model to simulate decisions, optimise outcomes, and continuously refine the operational picture. The aim, Huiskamp noted, is to “close the loop 24/7” and make live data directly actionable for mission planning and adaptation.

AI, Simulation and War Games – Beyond the Aspirational

Artificial intelligence featured prominently again this year, with a shift in tone from theoretical possibilities to current applications. Panels discussed AI’s role in areas such as decision support, training analytics and optimisation, and data management.

Colonel Francesco Pacillo of NATO M&S COE passionately asserted that digital technologies, including AI, cloud computing, and edge analytics, are no longer mere enablers but are "core to decision domain dominance, mission rehearsals, force preparation and strategic planning." This necessitates a fundamental shift from a platform-centric to an information-centric view of capability.

Data management and exploitation were discussed. A case in point was the Royal Netherlands Army’s Training Data Exploitation (TDX) project. The team demonstrated how simulator and live fire data are being used for faster after-action reviews (AARs) and longer-term performance analysis. By capturing overlooked data, often deleted in the past, they aim to draw more actionable insights at the unit level.

Raytheon UK presented an AI supported system that turns dense technical manuals into interactive training tools, backed by secure air-gapped systems. Their design keeps human instructors in the loop, ensuring that automation does not override professional judgement. “The tech is there to support, not replace, the trainer,” said one contributor.

The wargaming area saw strong engagement again, with eleven organisations participating, this time alongside the training and simulation exhibitors at the heart of the event.

Inclusion, Talent and Community – Broadening the Base

DSET 2025 continued its work on inclusion, accessibility, and early-career engagement. The event hosted the Army Service Women’s Network Conference, which focused on retention, leadership, and systemic issues within defence institutions.

The NextGen & Gen Z panel brought a younger demographic into focus, with students and early-career professionals discussing their routes into defence and simulation. Their message was clear: better visibility, mentorship, and practical access are still needed. “It’s hard to be heard if you’re the only young person in the room,” one participant said. “DSET gave us a platform.” Discounted entry, internships, and supported attendance were welcomed steps, but many saw them as starting points, not solutions.

Gamification and serious games were widely discussed as a way to engage diverse talent and support more effective and inclusive learning environments. Accordingly, the "Serious Games Showcase & Challenge Europe" (SGSCE) was a key event running during DSET and the "Agile Simulation and Training Delivery & Serious Games Panel” panel on day 3 discussed the opportunities and challenges of serious games. As an example, Major Amanda Willcox-Jones from the UK’s Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS) described gamified modules designed to help new officers develop soft skills and emotional maturity in dealing with complex real-world problems, such as welfare issues or sexual harassment reports. These modules provide personalised feedback based on army leadership doctrine.

Awards and Reflections – Informal Exchange and Peer Recognition

This year’s DSET Dinner, a first for the event, took place beneath the iconic Concorde aircraft at Aerospace Bristol. Awards were presented to individuals who had made notable contributions to simulation and training. Among the recipients were Bharat Patel (Dstl/NMSG) and Simon Leng (SimCentric), both recognised for their leadership and sustained involvement in the sector.

Feedback from delegates was for the most part positive. Participants appreciated the candid tone of the sessions, particularly the Ukrainian briefing, which grounded the event in current operational realities. There was also recognition that DSET continues to provide space for debate and collaboration, a feature not always present at larger trade shows.

However, the event layout drew some criticism. The longitudinal structure of the venue was cited as a barrier to spontaneous interaction. Organisers have noted the issue and indicated that revisions are planned for 2026 to improve delegate flow and informal interaction.

Looking Ahead to DSET 2026

Planning for next year is already underway. DSET is expected to return in June 2026, most likely again at Ashton Gate in Bristol, although Farnborough remains a potential alternative. A survey of community preferences is due to inform the exact dates, with the final week of June emerging as a front-runner to avoid scheduling clashes.

In addition to the annual event, DSET continues to operate year-round as a “365” platform, hosting smaller, targeted engagements throughout the calendar. This model supports continued knowledge exchange and enables more agile responses to developments in training, technology, and operations.

As the event enters its second decade, the focus remains on keeping content relevant and accessible, and open conversations and debate about the opportunities and challenges. DSET seems set to retain its role as an essential convening space for the defence training and simulation community throughout the year.