ORLANDO, USA — Bohemia Interactive Simulations (BISim), a global developer of advanced military simulation and training software, is announcing the latest releases of its Virtual Battle Space (VBS) flagship products, VBS4 and VBS Blue IG.
VBS4 and VBS Blue IG 23.1 include many new features, ease-of-use upgrades, and performance enhancements. The new releases are now available to download via the Customer Portal. Some of the new features in VBS4 23.1 are:
Configurable Radio Antennas - With this new functionality, VBS Radio Pro users can configure radio antennas using the radio administration tool and easily attach them to any vehicle within the battlespace. Administrators can customize the range and supported frequencies and even select custom colors for enhanced visualization. With configurable radio antennas, all units entering an antenna-enabled vehicle will automatically benefit from boosted radio transmission range. The antennas’ locations and range are also visually displayed on the 2D map, giving administrators a clear view of radio coverage. Watch video: Upgrade to BISim’s Radio Antennas Feature
Visual display of radio antennas on a 2D map. (Right) A vehicle showing radio antennas
Damage Charring - Damage charring is a new visual effect that appears on objects and vehicles when they are hit by munitions. This effect is also visible in thermal imaging sensors, where each impact leaves a distinct thermal mark, representing heat transfer from the explosion. Watch video: Watch video: New VBS4 feature: Damage Charring
Charring effect on objects
New Mission Briefing - The new mission briefing replaces the traditional “notepad” functionality in VBS4. Users can create HTML briefings with embedded images and incorporate .pdf briefing documents. Administrators can add multiple briefings to each battlespace and a briefing can support multiple languages. Watch video: New features in VBS4 Mission Briefing
New VBS4 23.1 HTML Mission Briefings
New Weather Panel - In VBS4 23.1, the new weather panel has replaced the weather-specific settings from the existing “scenario settings” panel. The new dedicated weather panel provides users access to all the previously available functions. In addition, it offers improved control over the battlespace weather, such as control of the new volumetric clouds, cloud layers, and fog density and color. Watch video: New Weather Panel
VBS4 23.1 new weather panel
Enhanced Video Options - VBS4 offers highly customizable graphical settings to suit various hardware systems and use cases. The latest video options provide more precise graphical presets and a searchable interface, guiding users directly to their desired settings.
Latest video options in VBS4 23.1
Particle Effect Upgrades - All major particle systems in VBS4 have undergone a significant upgrade without compromising performance. The upgrade includes enhanced bullet impact effects on varying material types, fire, smoke, dust, weapon effects, and explosions of all sizes. Large explosions from large-caliber artillery, in addition to having improved smoke and dust representation, will now also have shockwaves. Watch video: Particle Effect Improvements
Particle effect upgrade showing enhanced bullet impact effects
Rendering Enhancements - The latest updates to BISim's Blue engine have brought a wide range of rendering improvements to VBS4 and VBS Blue IG 23.1. It includes improvements to volumetric clouds, refined lighting adjustments for heavily overcast skies, enhanced cloud reflections on water surfaces, and fixing visual anomalies. Moreover, water rendering now accurately represents shadows on the water surface. Watch video: VBS Rendering Improvements: Cloud Shadows on Water
Rendering enhancements showing improvements to cloud, refined lighting adjustments
VBS Simulation SDK and IG SDK - BISim's 23.1 SDKs software release introduces several enhancements for development users. Notable updates include the availability of the Sensor API in VBS4 through the Simulation SDK, allowing developers to create custom sensors, including depth sensors. This update promotes reusability and streamlines the development process by leveraging the draw component shared between VBS Blue IG and VBS4. The release also includes new Sensor API and VR samples, further improving the user experience.
VBS4 is an easy-to-use, whole-earth virtual and constructive simulation and simulation host that fully supports a huge range of military-specific training and mission rehearsal use cases.
VBS Blue IG is a high-performance, CIGI-compliant, 3D whole-earth image generator designed to support the full spectrum of land, sea, air and space use cases.
To learn more about the releases, visit BISim booth #A1 at DSET 2023. You can also register for the upcoming VBS Webinar on ‘VBS4 23.1 Walkthrough’. You can also check out a detailed presentation on BISim’s VBS4 new releases here.
About BISim
Founded in 2001, Bohemia Interactive Simulations (BISim), a wholly-owned subsidiary of BAE Systems, Inc, is a global software company at the forefront of simulation and training solutions for defense and civilian organizations.
Globally, many hundreds of thousands of military personnel are trained every year using BISim’s high-fidelity VBS software products. More than 60 NATO and NATO-friendly countries, and over 300 integrators/prime contractors use VBS technology, many making significant funding commitments to extend VBS product capabilities. BISim’s customers include the U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, Canadian Armed Forces, UK MOD, French Army, Bundeswehr, Swedish Armed Forces, Australian Defence Force, New Zealand Defence Force and many major system integrators.
