The MoD codified VR simulators Chaika and Chaika-M developed by Tekhnary. What are these systems?

The Odesa engineering company Tekhnary announced that the training VR simulators Chaika and Chaika-M have been officially approved for use by the Ukrainian Defence Forces and have received NATO codification. Defender Media spoke with the developers to find out what these systems are and how codification might affect their future.

According to company co-founder Yevhen Lyashan, the codification process took nine months. It was complicated by the fact that Chaika is a simulator without a full-scale model of a MANPADS or a machine gun. The system is primarily software-based, and software is not codified in Ukraine. Ultimately, both simulators were codified as hardware–software complexes.

Chaika and Chaika-M had already been used by the Defence Forces before codification, but now the state can officially procure them, explained Tekhnary CEO Hennadii Suldin. He said that more than 450 simulators have already been delivered to various units. Chaika has been used by air defence units since December 2023, and Chaika-M has been supplied to some brigades since February 2025.

Chaika

The Chaika simulator is designed to train nighttime anti-aircraft shooting using the Igla MANPADS and 12.7 mm DShK and M2 machine guns. The system helps personnel of mobile and stationary low-altitude air defence posts of different branches of the military to develop practical skills — from rapid situational assessment to engagement decisions.

Chaika simulates aerial attacks from various altitudes, angles, distances, and speeds, allowing operators to practise targeting cruise missiles and Shaheds with machine guns. It complements live-fire training. The average time needed to master the virtual environment and controls during the first session is no more than 10 minutes, while the optimal duration for individual sessions is 15 minutes.

Suldin explains that Chaika is intended for air defence operators already trained to fire MANPADS or machine guns, helping them rehearse scenarios such as shooting down a cruise missile or a Shahed drone in the night sky. He adds that codification will not significantly affect orders for Chaika, as “almost everyone who needs it already has it.”

Chaika-M

A variation of the system, Chaika-M (code-named Flyswatter), is a VR trainer based on the Meta Quest 3 headset designed for the last line of personal defence against FPV drones. It simulates real drone attack scenarios (over 20 types) and allows for repeated training sessions without using live ammunition.

Chaika-M recreates the physical feel of real weapons through a mock device, enhancing the realism of training. The system is aimed at improving survival in critical situations by developing quick decision-making, peripheral vision, muscle memory, stress resilience, and firing accuracy. According to the developers, consistent and systematic training improves both individual and team safety.

Suldin believes that codification opens much greater opportunities for Chaika-M, arguing that such a trainer should be available in every company. “Regular use in a unit will reduce combat losses from FPV drones, Lancets, and Molnias by 25–30% within just a few weeks — both in personnel and equipment,” he said.

If needed, Tekhnary is ready to rapidly scale up production. Lyashan and Suldin estimate that they can manufacture 200–300 simulators per month.

Technary also developed the app “єППО”, through which civilians can report enemy aerial activity to the military. The programme has more than 500,000 downloads on Google Play and around 200,000 on the App Store.