Team CATALYST Advanced to NATO Simulation Sprint 3
The group moved into the next stage of the NATO competitive evaluation for its new digital wargaming environment.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Software
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Team CATALYST has advanced to the third sprint of the NATO Next Generation Modelling and Simulation Programme. The multinational group is now one of five bidders remaining in the competitive procurement process.
Why it matters
The program aims to modernize how the Alliance conducts training, operational planning, and wargaming. It serves as a core enabler for the broader NATO digital transformation and Multi-Domain Operations agenda.
The team includes 6 companies and utilizes a multi-domain synthetic environment simulation engine. This framework employs simulation distribution technologies to connect various national and NATO-wide systems.
The players
Team CATALYST
A multinational consortium led by By Light Professional IT Services LLC that integrates systems for defense simulation.
NATO
The intergovernmental military alliance currently undergoing a major digital transformation and operational overhaul.
The details
The team uses an open, adaptable, and data-centric framework designed to integrate disjointed national and NATO capabilities. By leveraging a synthetic environment—a virtual simulation platform that mimics real-world operations—the group aims to support complex operational analysis. The team is scheduled to demonstrate the scalability and security of this environment during the upcoming sprint.
Timeline
September 29, 2026: The advancement to Sprint 3 was officially announced.
The Tech Race
This effort follows the NATO Multi-Domain Operations agenda, which seeks to unify disparate defense systems into a single digital architecture. The team is now competing against four other groups to prove their framework can scale effectively for Alliance-wide usage.
The development of this simulation environment will eventually shape how NATO forces conduct operational planning and wargames. There is currently no public timeline for when these systems will be fully deployed across member nations.
The takeaway
Team CATALYST has successfully cleared the initial technical hurdles to remain in the competition for the NATO simulation contract. Observers should track the upcoming Sprint 3 demonstration to see if the team successfully meets the security and scalability requirements demanded by the Alliance.
Further reading
For more on the current landscape of defense-grade simulation, visit our Software section.
More information
View the full By Light product and solution portfolio for additional technical background.
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