Original analysis and strategic commentary on defence training, synthetic environments and capability governance.
About this page
This page collects strategic analysis and commentary related to defence training transformation, synthetic environments and the governance of complex training capability.
The perspectives shared here are shaped by more than two decades of work with military training and simulation — including leadership of the Norwegian Army Training and Simulation Centre, business development across the Nordic and Baltic defence market, and continuing engagement with the wider training and simulation community. Eriksen LiveSim Consult is an independent advisory practice; all views and commentary expressed on this site are the author’s own and do not represent the Norwegian Armed Forces, any client, or any other organisation.
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Strategic Insight · August 2026
The institutional case for a persistent Nordic LVC model, not another one-off exercise architecture. Selected for the I/ITSEC 2026 Conference Proceedings and podium presentation, Orlando, 30 Nov–3 Dec. Read Full Insight → |
A connected series examining the gap in Nordic synthetic training capability and proposing a concrete architecture to address it — from strategic framing to actionable blueprint.
Browse the full library. New posts appear automatically.
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Nordic Synthetic Training Gap — Accepted for I/ITSEC 2026
Strategic Insight · I/ITSEC 2026 Nordic Synthetic Training Series From Three Articles to a Conference Paper: Closing the Nordic Synthetic Training Gap Three pieces on this site made the same argument about Nordic synthetic training from three angles. A paper accepted to I/ITSEC 2026 is where that argument gets tested outside Norway. Author Ken-Tore Saade…
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Cold Response 2026: Training a Division with Live-Constructive Integration
Photo: Torbjørn Kjosvold / Forsvaret Technical Paper · ITEC 2026 Training Transformation Cold Response 2026: Training a Division with Live-Constructive Integration How Norway designed and executed the first deliberate live-constructive architecture to train its full divisional structure — and what it means for the future of collective training at scale. Author Ken-Tore Saade Eriksen, Lt.…
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ITEC 2026: The Signals That Give Me Genuine Optimism
Insights ITEC 2026: The Signals That Give Me Genuine Optimism I came to ITEC wearing two hats. What I saw — in the best paper, the highly commended work, the panel, and on the floor — pointed in a consistent and significant direction. 6–8 min read · ITEC 2026 · Defence Training Technology · LVC…
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From Army to OneArc Business Development Director
Announcement · April 2026 From Army to OneArc BD Director A New Chapter for me in Defence Simulation Published 13 April 2026 · 6–8 min read · LVC Integration · Nordic Defence · Synthetic Training · NORDEFCO Editor’s note, July 2026: This article was published on 13 April 2026, on joining BAE Systems OneArc as…
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Why does Military Synthetic Training not Scale Well?
Insights Why Does Military Synthetic Training Not Scale Well? After twenty-four years running live, constructive and virtual training; Military Synthetic Training in the Norwegian Army — the technology works. What consistently fails is the systems thinking that connects it. 10–12 min read · Military Synthetic Training · LVC Integration · Defence Procurement · Norwegian Army…
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Constructive Simulation: Training the Division to Think and Fight
Strategic Insight Training Division to Think and Fight: Getting Constructive Simulation Right February 2026 · Ken-Tore Saade Eriksen Constructive simulation only creates readiness when it trains cognition: decision-making under uncertainty, tempo, friction, and consequence. For much of the past two decades, division- and brigade-level headquarters training received less attention than lower-echelon readiness. Expeditionary operations and…
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Who Actually Owns Training and Simulation Outcomes?
Strategic Insight Who Actually Owns Training and Simulation Outcomes? Eriksen LiveSim Consult · Strategic governance for measurable readiness Training outcomes are often described as a shared responsibility — but in practice, they are frequently owned by no one. While systems, instructors and units all contribute, accountability for measurable training effect is often unclear. This lack…
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Governance Is the Real Training System
Strategic Insight Governance Is the Real Training System Eriksen LiveSim Consult · Governance, ownership, measurable readiness To expand on my two previous posts, I have come to the conclusion that Governance Is the Real Training System. Post 1: Why Training and Simulation Decisions Fail – Even When the Technology Works Post 2: If Simulation Is…
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If Simulation Is Optional, It Is Not a Capability
Strategic Insight If Simulation Is Optional – It Is Not a Capability Eriksen LiveSim Consult · Governance, mandate, measurable readiness If simulation is optional, it does not constitute a capability. In large organisations, optional use inevitably leads to uneven standards, declining proficiency, and weak return on investment. This is not a cultural issue or a…
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Why Training and Simulation Decisions Fail – Even When the Technology Works
Strategic Insight Why Training and Simulation Fail – Even When the Technology Works Eriksen LiveSim Consult · Governance, ownership, operational effect Despite significant investment in advanced training and simulation systems, many defence organisations struggle to realise lasting operational capability. The reason is rarely technological. More often, it lies in unclear ownership, weak mandate and insufficient…
Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Ken-Tore Saade Eriksen retired from the Norwegian Army after 38 years of service. He served as Head of the Norwegian Army Training and Simulation Centre from 2018 to 2026, with national-level responsibility for integrating Army-wide simulation capabilities.
He has been a member of two NATO Modelling and Simulation Group (NMSG) sub-working groups: Simulation for Training and Operations – Land (STOG-L) and Urban Combat Advanced Training Technologies – Live Simulation Standards (UCATT-LSS). He was the author of the keynote address by the Chief of the Norwegian Army at ITEC 2025, and a panel speaker at ITEC 2025 and ITEC 2026.
He is the Founder of and Strategic Advisor at Eriksen LiveSim Consult, an independent advisory firm specialising in the integration of synthetic training and defence training modernisation.
Conference papers, book contributions and external publications are catalogued on Publications.
If the arguments here match a problem you are dealing with, Eriksen LiveSim Consult advises defence organisations and international suppliers across the Nordic and Baltic region.
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