Vanguard Magazine

www.vanguardcanada.com JUNE/JULY 2026 17 Sponsored Content tougher going forward because technol- ogy is always evolving. What made sense two years ago may not make sense next year, so speed and flexibility are key. Our next-generation approach is to build a digital ecosystem where any kind of train- ing system can be connected. Modern sys- tems and capabilities are increasingly digi- tal, software-enabled and interconnected. Connecting training, simulation, mission rehearsal, experimentation and readiness activities into a single ecosystem will lower technological barriers to interoperability, generate readiness faster and drive contin- uous adaptation to a changing global envi- ronment. Taken together, this will enable our military personnel to train as they will fight in realistic, immersive environments. System of systems platform To deliver next-generation training, Calian is developing a digital system-of-systems platform called ATHORA that will serve as the integration and orchestration environ- ment. ATHORA is not the training system: it is the enabling environment that allows diverse capabilities, systems and technolo- gies to connect to each other. ATHORA will deliver a technology plat- form that will enable the connection of data feeds, ISR sensor data and any data stream from operational and command and control systems. This is a challenge that militaries have faced since digital systems became available for military use. Propri- etary standards are often a barrier to inte- gration. ATHORA will lower that barrier and enable interoperability. To deliver ATHORA, Calian has an- nounced a partnership with Evertz Mi- crosystems—a Canadian company that is a global leader in real-time video and tele- vision broadcasting. They manage large, high-fidelity datasets for commercial cus- tomers, and there are clear defence applica- tions for this technology and expertise. Benefits for military training Calian's next generation training capability will not replace anything the CAF has in service today, any training systems or solu- tions it is planning on acquiring, or other capital programs. Calian's next-generation approach will be the integration platform that connects all the pieces together in a single training environment. This will deliv- er a "train-as-you-will-fight" experience by connecting the real systems that personnel will use on operations—voice radios, ISR sensors, command and control systems, etc. This approach is not one system. It is one environment that delivers agility and inte- gration of existing systems. This provides the ability to build an environment with the same systems that personnel will use for a particular operation, and the ability to re- configure if the operational need changes. The clear benefit is maximum agility and realism in delivering training. By integrat- ing the actual systems that personnel will use, the experience they gain in training will match the expectation on operations. The Calian approach will narrow the gap between training and operations, building and sustaining readiness faster than using any existing approach or technology. P E R S P E C T I V E pursuits and scaling. This a common chal- lenge with SMEs. Many are laser-focused on getting their capability to TRL 9—which makes sense. The challenge is connecting that capability with a program where it be- comes part of an in-service solution. VEN- TURES connects SMEs with funding and pursuit help from Calian. We have signed three partners to the VENTURES program so far, and we are in talks with many oth- ers. This is a permanent part of who we are and will support the development of the defence industrial base over the long term. Top defence priorities for Calian A strong part of Calian's legacy is as a de- fence training and simulation company. For almost three decades, we have been a training partner to the CAF. We have trained over 250,000 CAF personnel in that time and 50,000 NATO member personnel in the last decade. We are now working on next-generation solutions for military training. Our vision for military training is to ac- celerate the digital integration of training and operational systems so that military personnel can train as they will fight. New systems—sensors, command-and- control technology, AI-enabled decision support, quantum sensors—are being de- veloped faster than militaries can integrate them. This challenge is likely to become ATHORA is not the training system: it is the enabling environment that allows diverse capabilities, systems and technologies to connect to each other.

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