Franco-Belgian high-tech specialist Exail has been selected by the French Army to conduct a tactical evaluation of advanced driving simulators, the company announced on 13 March 2025.
The initiative, led by the Directorate of Studies and Foresight (DEP) of the Transportation and Operational Logistics School, in collaboration with the French Army’s Technical Section (STAT), will be carried out by the 515th Transportation Regiment (515ᵉ RT) in Brie, northern France.
The project is aimed at enhancing operational preparation and training for the French Army’s logistics units.
Exail uses its off-the-shelf EF-Car and EF-Truck simulators to train French soldiers on a wide range of vehicles, from light to very heavy platforms. The technology offers an immersive training environment, allowing operators to master their driving skills in a controlled and safe space, encouraging learning through experience and boosting overall operational efficiency.
For the French Army’s tactical evaluation, the simulators will be connected to an instructor station, facilitating real-time monitoring. The system’s tactical scenario editor enables the 515th RT to simulate a wide range of operations, including crowd management, ballistic threat responses and improvised explosive device (IED) scenarios. These capabilities help soldiers develop co-ordination strategies, reaction manoeuvres and disengagement operations under realistic conditions.
“After a very convincing initial demonstration at Exail’s Lannion site, the Transport and Operational Logistics School’s DEP decided to take discussions further by conducting a Tactical Evaluation (EVTA), which was validated by the French Army Staff (EMAT) in 2024,” Exail quoted French Army Lieutenant Colonel Marc Guilleux as stating in a company press release. “This evaluation is expected to begin in June 2025 and will last 10 months. The primary goal for the Transportation regiment is to assess the relevance of these advanced driving simulators in optimising the process of obtaining driving licences, thereby enhancing operational capability. Additionally, these simulators will provide the opportunity to conduct convoy operations (squad first team) in simulation, improving training efficiency and operational readiness.”
“At Exail we are proud to support the French Army in conducting this tactical evaluation with our simulators,” added Charles Le Bot, Exail’s head of simulation activities. “By providing an immersive and safe training environment, our EF-Car and EF-Truck simulators enable soldiers to refine their driving skills, preparing them for complex and demanding mission scenarios. This partnership is a testament to our commitment to advancing military training, ensuring that soldiers are fully prepared for the challenges they will face in the field, with the flexibility to make mistakes, learn and improve their operational efficiency.”
