Captain (Advisor Infantry Weapons) GA Dickson from the Dismounted Close Combat (DCC) Distributed Training Cell (DTC) spent time at Cobra Simulation’s test lab, to review and test our brand-new night vision capable Venom Domes. Using a military standard Head Mounted Night Vision System (HMNVS), our unique Omnifocus folded optics, and JVCs latest VS47NVG projector, we projected and warped a dedicated infrared light source to the cobra 180 Venom Dome. Test footage was captured through a PVS-14 Night Vision Monocle, to demonstrate the capability. 

Capt Dickson said “Operating at night tactically, with vehicles and weapons comes with an inherent risk to life. The JVC VS47NVG projector and  Cobra180 Venom has the utility to train and test soldiers across a number night training scenarios, whilst using their IR sensors such as NVG and weapons and control optics. The immersive dome on the Cobra180 Venom lends itself well to driver and joint fires training, especially when used with VBS and CGI. What was particularly impressive, was the clarity and resolution displayed on screen, when observed though a 1 st generation HMNVS”. This system is available now on Cobra180 Venom platform. Please get in touch for more information.

Cobra Simulation announce the release of its new range of 8K based fully portable single channel domes. Made possible by the introduction of the new JVC E-shift range of projectors. JVC becomes the first projector manufacturer to achieve certification with an 8k resolution projector combined with our Cobra180 dome.

Enabling our latest Cobra180® product to achieve an average resolution of approx. 2 arcmin/pix. Over a 180° x 80° FOV. When combined with our Cobra150® dome we finally tip the industry pivot scales to an average of around 1.25 arcmin/pix over a 150° x 66° FOV.

Alexander Bradley Managing Director said “This is a pivotal moment for our single channel product map at Cobra. Adding 8k projectors to our portfolio brings a new level of immersion to our offering.”

E-Shift has been around for many years. The technology is on its third revision having matured well. We had high expectations when starting the certification process for use with our domes and the JVC does not disappoint. As one of the leading pixel shift technologies it takes a traditional native 4k input and upscales it to 8k @60hz. The biproduct of such a high resolution is the need for a new high-quality lens. The JVC is delivered out the box with an all glass lens with a large zoom and lens shift range to deliver crisp images. The quality of the optics supports a large depth of focus when combined with Cobra’s unique 2^nd generation first surface mirror technology.

Cobra180® is a professional high quality, immersive display solution optimised for training & simulation use. The unit combines a 2.1m diameter panorama dome screen delivering 180 degree horizontal and 80-degree vertical fields of view, with an integral single channel optical solution incorporating projector mounting plate, first surface mirror, and ambient light management. Manufactured from dual-skin GRP with an integral aluminium frame, the Cobra180® is light enough to be housed in a flight case for storage and rapid deployment/ assembly, yet strong enough to form part of a permanent fixed installation.

Custom cut out:

All Cobra180® domes can be delivered with a section of the dome cut to your specification. You may wish to slide an aircraft cockpit inside the dome. Removing a section of dome allows you to keep the users eye point at dome centre.

With a great range of 4k and now 8k projectors, two dome sizes to choose from with lamp or laser-based options there is a solution to suit a range of training & simulation budgets.

Please speak with a member of our sales team for more information and pricing.

Cobra spent time with WO1 (Corps SM) Greg Dickson, Corps SM SASC at Headquarters Small Arms School Corps (SASC) In Waterloo Lines Warminster, to get some feedback on our new Cobra180 dome training solution. Waterloo Lines is home to a number of Units including Land Warfare Centre (LWC), Specialist Weapons School (SWS) and HQ SASC to name but a few.



The visit to the HQ SASC Training Centre was timed to coincide with the launch of VBS4, VBS World Server and VBS Blue, integrated software from Bohemia Interactive simulations. The new system brings several new features and benefits to any military training environment.

- 180-degree horizontal field of view
- 80-degree vertical field of view
- A small footprint of just 2.1 metres
- Single projector requiring only a single IG
- Rapid deployment
- VBS Blue ready
- Multiple domes networked
- Re-configurable for different training needs. Land, Air, Sea or Command and Control

The ability to provide a 180° horizontal field of view within such a small footprint is a major advance in reconfigurable dome training systems. Made possible with support from project partners Novatech, Scalable Displays, Sony Professional, and Bohemia Interactive Simulations.

Cobra ran a short AI based demo mission which included several air and land assets. The friendly forces were tasked with the defence of a Forward Operating Base (FOB), by delaying an advancing Armoured Infantry Company Group within a valley. The friendly assets included a number of dismounted Infantry, an attached JTAC and an Anti-Tank Section. Air support from two Typhoon Eurofighters and an A10 Warthog, two main battle tanks and an AH-64 Apache attack helicopter were also included within the scenario.

The demo was designed to highlight the benefits of a large field of view for the trainee or an observer within the battlespace for both pilot and ground forces. The user could select any first-person view of the chosen asset in real time as the mission played out.

WO1 (Corps SM) Dickson invited several colleagues to take a first look at VBS Blue fully rendered at 180° x 80° with a single Image generator.

We welcomed; WO1 (SMI) Neil Farrer (SMI Infantry Trials and Development Unit), WO1 (SMI) Adam Tester (SMI G7 Army HQ HoC GM), WO2 (QMSI) Bagshaw-Wicket (DI Mortar Division), WO2 (QMSI) Martin Black (SASC Trg WO)

It became evident throughout the demonstration that the new platform could advance current training facilities and enhance existing training tools. Topics of discussion included:

• Command & Observer
• Virtual Reconnaissance of the UK and Overseas Training Estates
• Hazard Perception
• Target Indication
• Live Fire Tactical Training (LFTT) Planning and Safety Assurance

We asked what was important within the virtual training environment?

WO1 (Corps SM) Dickson noted

“Being situationally aware in a live fire environment is at the epicentre of our training. The greater the fidelity of the virtual training, the more informed the trainee or observer is, which leads to better decision-making, Command and Control, lethality and target effect."

and how the system could enhance facilities?

He added “Many existing virtual training solutions focus on room scale flat projection screens with a very limited field of view. This restricts the types of training we can effectively deliver within the virtual training space, often meaning we need to jump straight from textbook into to a live environment. This presents challenges with training progressions, especially where the control and supervision of direct and indirect live fire is required.”

We explained that a single system could be deployed fully licensed for under £50k

WO1 (Corps SM) Dickson responded “The recent pandemic has highlighted the need to have an effective virtual training system, that can be used to assess and teach both tactics and weapon employment. As technology continues to gather pace, innovative multi-use platforms that allow us to train in different disciplines and overcome time, space and recourse restrictions. This virtual training will improve live firing safety, but more importantly, it will keep our soldiers current and ready to fight in all future environments”



The team plan to revisit Waterloo Lines in Warminster later in the year, the Cobra180 AV system will be deployed in several different divisions and used alongside existing platforms to fully assess the benefits. Under pinning its versatility as a reconfigurable dome trainer.

Alexander Bradley Managing Director at Cobra Simulation said

“We have always valued direct feedback from the end users of our products. The featured system has been two years in the making, the project led by Cobra Simulation and supported by its collaborative partners Bohemia Interactive Simulations, Novatech, Scalable Displays and Sony Professional. They have been fantastic partners to work with."

"Having the opportunity to share our latest collaborative project first-hand with members of our defence forces has been a great next step, we’re very grateful to our hosts and learnt a great deal about where we should focus our attention.”