U.S. Navy Demonstrates Portable VR Bridge Trainer Aboard Aircraft Carrier

The U.S. Navy has publicly demonstrated a portable virtual reality bridge training system aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), marking operational validation of shipboard VR training that reduces reliance on shore-based simulators.

The Virtual Bridge and Nautical Trainer (VIBRaNT), developed by UK-based Kilo Solutions, enables bridge teams to rehearse complex navigational scenarios in immersive virtual environments aboard operational vessels. The demonstration was documented by the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service.

VIBRaNT was adapted from Kilo's commercial VASCO cloud-connected VR bridge simulator to meet U.S. Navy requirements. The system was delivered under contract with the Office of Naval Research Tech Solutions in collaboration with Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific, following Kilo's selection as a commercial-off-the-shelf technology partner.

The untethered VR system allows bridge watchkeeping teams to train at sea without pulling ships to shore facilities or exposing live assets to training risks. The capability supports mission rehearsal, performance evaluation, and maintenance of bridge standards in operational environments.

"We simply take the simulator to the individuals, not the other way round," said Andy Parkin, Managing Director of Kilo Solutions, noting the system aims to maintain operational readiness while reducing training costs.

The demonstration reflects U.S. Navy movement toward deployable training capabilities that complement fixed simulators and provide access to immersive training wherever crews operate. The Nimitz-class carrier deployment validates the technology's readiness for fleet-wide adoption.