Israeli company In3D has announced a new collaboration with the Israeli Air Force to deploy an advanced simulation system based on extended reality (XR) technologies for training firefighting teams at air force bases. The system is designed to simulate complex fire scenarios inside aircraft hangars—sensitive operational environments that contain aircraft, fuel systems, and technical equipment—allowing crews to practice emergency response in a safe yet realistic setting.
The simulator developed by the company uses detailed 3D modeling of hangar environments to create an interactive training experience that includes simulated flames, smoke, and noise, alongside dynamic scenarios that replicate different emergency situations. Trainees enter the virtual environment using VR or mixed-reality headsets and perform firefighting and response procedures in real time, while instructors monitor their actions on an external display and analyze the decision-making process.
The system enables firefighting teams to train for a wide range of complex fire scenarios inside hangars without disrupting operational activity or conducting drills involving live fire. In the past, such training often required clearing an entire hangar and sometimes igniting controlled fires for practice—an approach that involved safety risks and logistical challenges. The new simulator allows multiple scenarios to be run within a virtual environment that replicates real-world conditions, including extreme situations that are difficult or impossible to reproduce in physical drills.
“Virtual reality enables teams to prepare for extreme situations in a highly realistic way while maintaining a controlled level of pressure,” said Nathanael Reicher, CEO of In3D. “This allows organizations to conduct high-quality training without disrupting operations or exposing people and equipment to unnecessary risk.”
A Startup Born from Operational Training Needs
In3D was founded in 2017 by Nathanael Reicher and Ran Chaikin, both veterans of Israel’s defense establishment who served in command and training roles during their military careers. During their service, the two identified a gap between traditional military training methods and the advanced technologies emerging in the gaming and virtual reality industries.
They launched the company to develop simulation systems based on virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR) technologies designed to replicate real operational environments as accurately as possible—whether on a battlefield, in an operating room, or in an industrial facility.
The company’s technology is built around creating detailed 3D models of real-world environments, sometimes using field scans and measurements, and transforming them into interactive simulations where different scenarios can be executed. Users enter the environment using XR headsets, move within the space, and perform actions in real time, while the system records and analyzes their behavior for training and feedback purposes.
Expanding Activity in Defense and Healthcare
Beyond its work with the Israeli Air Force, In3D has developed additional projects for defense and training organizations. The company has created simulation systems designed to rehearse emergency scenarios and disaster sites, allowing professionals to train under conditions that closely resemble real-world situations.
For example, In3D developed a mixed-reality simulation system for Israel’s Military Rabbinate, used to train battalion rabbis for complex battlefield and disaster scenarios. The system enables personnel to practice procedures such as casualty identification and evacuation under operational pressure.
The company’s technology has also found applications in healthcare. In3D has developed systems that convert CT and MRI scans into interactive 3D models, allowing surgeons to enter a virtual environment, examine patient anatomy from different angles, and plan surgical procedures in advance.
In addition, the company operates in areas such as professional training, industrial maintenance, and engineering visualization, often using digital twin principles—creating virtual replicas of physical environments that enable simulations and scenario analysis.
Training Closer to Reality
The new project with the Israeli Air Force reflects a broader shift in defense and industrial training, where extended-reality technologies are increasingly used to prepare personnel for extreme situations. By combining 3D simulation, real-time interaction, and instructor oversight, such systems allow organizations to conduct complex training exercises more frequently and at lower cost.
For Israeli Air Force firefighting teams, the result is the ability to repeatedly train for hangar fire scenarios—among the most hazardous environments at air bases—and improve operational readiness for real emergencies.