These announcements mark not just a policy shift, but a signal of intent for the Labour Government within the new era of war in Europe.  

With a commitment to increase defence and national security spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, the UK Government has set out a bold vision – one attempts to bring major transformation across procurement, innovation, and industrial resilience. 

For SMEs, long operating at the periphery of major defence contracts, this may well mark the start of a more central role.  

But alongside the promise, there are some practical realities to prepare for.

Metaverse VR has signed a two-year Memorandum of Understanding with Aviation Systems Group (ASG), heralding the start of a strategic relationship focused on advancing drone operator training through immersive and integrated technologies.

The agreement lays the foundation for a collaborative framework that brings together Metaverse VR’s cutting-edge mixed and virtual reality training tools with ASG’s deep operational and aviation expertise.

As the momentum in VR training continues to accelerate, the two organisations will explore opportunities together to co-develop enhanced solutions for UAS (Uncrewed Aerial Systems) operators across defence, commercial and specialist sectors.

Toby Everitt, Founder and CEO of Metaverse VR, said: 
“We’re thrilled to formalise our relationship with the ASG team. Their operational pedigree and deep sector experience make them the perfect partner to help bring our immersive training solutions to more operators across the UK.

“By combining our VirtualSky platform with ASG’s proven training programmes and aviation insight, we’re aiming to deliver a truly unique proposition and integrated capability – giving UAS operators a smarter, safer and more effective way to train, test and improve.

“Over the next two years, we’ll be working closely together to identify new ways to push boundaries, optimise performance and redefine what operator development can look like.”

Chad Johnson, UAS Services Director of ASG, added:
“This is a really exciting opportunity to collaborate with Metaverse VR and take operator training to a whole new level.

“Their VirtualSky platform – paired with our on-the-ground training and operational delivery – will unlock new ways for UAS professionals to build capability, develop confidence and prepare for real-world missions.”

The partnership also supports wider goals across both businesses to deliver training that is scalable, cost-effective and tailored to the environments and pressures UAS teams face today.

If you’ve clicked on this article, we’re guessing you’ve got a few questions. Maybe even a couple of reservations?

Like any fast-evolving technology, VR training comes with its fair share of misconceptions – especially around cost, complexity, and whether it’s as effective as traditional methods.

But the truth? It’s far more accessible – and infinitely more powerful – than most people think. And the wide range of options available provide value for even the most budget conscious projects, comparing extremely favourably to traditional forms of training.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to get started with immersive VR training.

We’ll look at how it integrates with the systems you already use (rather than working against them), and why it’s fast becoming the go-to choice for teams that need to train smarter, safer, and more affordably.