4GD
4GD is a UK-incorporated, veteran-owned defence technology company that designs and operates the SmartFacility training platform — an instrumented, data-focussed immersive environment combining reconfigurable physical infrastructure, AI-capable robotic targetry, and synthetic LVC integration — for military (British Army, US Army, Royal Marines) and law enforcement end-users.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What 4GD does
4GD (trading name of 4GD Ltd) is a UK-incorporated, veteran-owned defence technology company founded in 2016 by Robert Taylor, a former Royal Marines officer. The company designs, builds, and operates SmartFacility — an instrumented, data-focussed immersive training environment that combines reconfigurable physical infrastructure (SimWall panels, 4GAV audio-visual effects) with synthetic elements (ACIES Integrated Realities) and AI-capable robotic targetry (SimStriker). Its proprietary Ecfect_OS data platform captures 18+ human-performance data points per operator, enabling real-time synthetic twinning and after-action review. The offering is structured across five escalating capability levels (Level 1 SimWall-only through Level 5 full Live/Virtual/Constructive combined-arms integration), with UAS/FPV drone simulation as an additional product line.
The company serves primarily military end-users — including the British Army (Colchester Level 3, Army Warfighting Experiment, Garrison Urban Skills Facilities), Royal Marines, US Army (Albuquerque Level 2), and Parachute Regiment (2 Para) — with law enforcement as a secondary vertical. Revenue is generated through sale and installation of complete SmartFacility environments (one-time hardware/integration contracts), sale of SimStriker target systems, recurring software/licensing components on Ecfect_OS and ACIES, and Phase 2 upgrade contracts. Distribution combines direct enterprise sales to military procurement teams with prime-contractor channels (notably Lockheed Martin) and technology partnerships (NVIDIA, D3A, Megaslice). Headquartered in London with a regional office in Colorado, 4GD operates across the UK and US defence markets.
4GD firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- 4GD
- Legal name
- 4GD Ltd
- Website
- https://4gd.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- 4GD is a UK-incorporated, veteran-owned defence technology company that designs and operates the SmartFacility training platform — an instrumented, data-focussed immersive environment combining reconfigurable physical infrastructure, AI-capable robotic targetry, and synthetic LVC integration — for military (British Army, US Army, Royal Marines) and law enforcement end-users.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
4GD industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Military Training Systems
- NAICS
- Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Defense R&D, Test, Evaluation & Innovation (BPAIAHAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Autonomous Defense Systems (AI/ML, Swarming, MUM-T) (IMABAOAI)
Keywords
Where 4GD is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
4GD business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- SmartFacility Training Infrastructure: Sale and installation of complete SmartFacility training environments including SimWall panels, 4GAV systems, and facility setup. Customized to client requirements ranging from Level 1 (basic SimWall) to Level 5 (full LVC integration).
- SimStriker Target Systems: Sale of AI-capable humanoid robotic target systems with data capture capabilities. Hardware plus associated software licensing.
- Software Platforms (Ecfect_OS, ACIES): Software platforms for data capture, analytics, and synthetic environment management. Likely includes licensing and maintenance components.
- Upgrades and Expansions: Phase 2 upgrades for existing facilities, adding new capabilities like SimStriker targets to previously delivered SmartFacilities.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels8 records
4GD product offering
Product offeringCore offering
4GD develops and sells SmartFacility, an instrumented, data-focussed immersive physical/virtual training environment for military and law enforcement. The offering combines proprietary hardware (SimWall protective panels, SimStriker robotic targetry, 4GAV live-virtual bridge) with proprietary software platforms (Ecfect_OS, ACIES) and integrates synthetic UAS (drone) simulation for realistic combined-arms and urban training. Configurable SmartFacility Levels 1–5 let customers scale the system from core rooms to full multi-storey urban environments.
Product overview
4GD's product offering is the SmartFacility, a modular instrumented physical/virtual training platform with five escalating configuration levels. The core system is built on SimWall (reconfigurable panel walls for scenario adaptability) and integrates four main proprietary products: SimStriker (AI-capable humanoid robotic targetry), Ecfect_OS (human performance data capture system capturing 18 data points including weapon handling and eye movement), ACIES (open architecture Integrated Realities synthetic wrap for blended combined arms training), and 4GAV (tablet-based facility control suite with immersive effects). UAS Simulation capabilities extend the platform to synthetic drone training. The portfolio scales from Level 1 (SimWall only) to Level 5 (full combined arms Live/Virtual/Constructive integration).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- SmartFacility: Instrumented, immersive physical/virtual training environment with 5 levels of capability.
- SimStriker
- Ecfect_OS
- 4GAV
- ACIES
- SimWall
Products and services
- SmartFacility SmartFacility is 4GD's flagship instrumented, data-focussed immersive physical/virtual training environment for military and law enforcement. It combines SimWall protective panels, SimStriker robotic targetry, 4GAV live-virtual integration, and Ecfect_OS/ACIES software into one configurable system, with SmartFacility Levels 1–5 allowing customers to scale from core rooms to multi-storey urban training environments.
- SimWall SimWall is 4GD's modular protective panel system that forms the physical training environment within SmartFacility, enabling realistic urban and interior training scenarios while protecting participants.
- SimStriker Robotic Targetry SimStriker is 4GD's proprietary robotic mobile targetry system that provides dynamic, intelligent threat presentations within the SmartFacility training environment, supporting a wide range of marksmanship and tactical training scenarios.
- Ecfect_OS Ecfect_OS is 4GD's proprietary training operating system that controls and orchestrates the SmartFacility training environment, managing scenarios, targetry, sensors, and after-action data capture.
- ACIES ACIES is 4GD's data analytics and sensor platform that ingests, analyses, and visualises training data captured in SmartFacility, supporting after-action review and continuous training improvement.
- 4GAV 4GAV is 4GD's live-virtual-constructive (LVC) integration system that bridges live training within SmartFacility with virtual and constructive simulations, enabling combined live and simulated training scenarios.
- Synthetic UAS Simulation Synthetic UAS Simulation is 4GD's drone/UAS simulation capability, integrated into the SmartFacility training environment to support counter-UAS and combined-arms training scenarios.
Quantifiable outcome
- 672% urban training increase
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use 4GD
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
4GD technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature8 records
4GD partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- D3AcoreSynthetic simulation partner critical to ACIES capability. Founded in 2018, veteran owned and operated. Provides virtual simulation expertise and support across defence in development and delivery of training solutions. Working closely with 4GD since 2019.
- Lockheed MartincorePrime defence contractor partnership. Listed as working with 4GD, with mention of UK Future Collective Training System. Lockheed Martin UK provided positive testimonial about 4GD's leadership and growth potential.
- NVIDIAcoreTechnology partnership for AI and graphics processing capabilities. Listed as working with 4GD, supporting advanced simulation and AI-driven targetry.
- MegaslicecoreTechnology partner providing senior technologist support. Bart Stasik, a core inventor of SimStriker, is a Senior Technologist at Megaslice.
- Morgan IATminorUK-based training and simulation company. Partner on SmartFacility Level 3 Colchester project.
- British Army Drone Sports Associationminor4GD is a proud sponsor of BADSA, an organisation dedicated to training FPV drone pilots. Demonstrates commitment to drone agenda and UAS simulation capabilities.
- 2IC WorldminorInternational consulting and channel partner network.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
4GD competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Thales (Training & Simulation): European defense prime offering military training and simulation systems across air, land, and naval domains. Comparable at the system-integration and LVC level, though much broader portfolio; competes with 4GD for European urban/combined-arms training contracts.
- CAE Inc. Global leader in simulation and training for defense and civil aviation. Comparable in delivering integrated training systems, including Live-Virtual-Constructive (LVC) environments — overlapping directly with 4GD's ACIES and SmartFacility levels 4-5.
- Leonardo DRS: US-based defense technology integrator with training systems heritage and growing synthetic training exposure. Comparable as a mid-tier US defense integrator competing for training programs that 4GD might enter via Lockheed partnership or direct bid.
- Cubic Corporation: Major US defense prime with a Mission Solutions segment focused on military training and instrumentation. Directly comparable to 4GD's instrumented live training systems, but at far greater scale and with broader portfolio across air, land, and synthetic training.
- Rheinmetall (Training and Simulation): German defense company with significant live training and simulation offerings (e.g., AGDUS, automotive training systems). Comparable in instrumented live training with data capture — a direct overlap with 4GD's SimWall and Ecfect_OS concept.
- Saab (Training & Simulation): European defense prime with a training and simulation division supplying live and synthetic military training solutions. Closely aligned with 4GD's urban and combined-arms training use cases, particularly for European NATO customers.
Emerging players
- Anduril Industries: US-based defense technology company building AI-enabled autonomous systems and counter-UAS solutions. Comparable in bringing modern AI/software engineering to defense, with growing interest in training/synthetic environments adjacent to 4GD's UAS simulation wedge.
Direct peers
- Bohemia Interactive Simulations (BISim): Specialized defense simulation software vendor focused on virtual training environments (VBS series) used widely by NATO militaries. Comparable in synthetic-environment and LVC capabilities but software-only, complementing rather than directly competing with 4GD's hardware-integrated SmartFacility.
- SimIS: US-based defense simulation company providing modeling, simulation, and training services to military and federal customers. Comparable as a small/mid-sized specialist in military simulation, overlapping in target audience and synthetic training delivery.
Others
- Mass General Brigham MESH (formerly Human Performance Center): While not a direct competitor, an adjacent organization working on operator performance data capture for military and first-responder training. Relevant as a comparable data-driven training analytics model but in a research/clinical setting.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
4GD social profiles
Digital presence4GD financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
4GD leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles21 records
4GD funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
4GD M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about 4GD
What does 4GD do?
4GD develops and sells SmartFacility, an instrumented, data-focussed immersive physical/virtual training environment for military and law enforcement. The offering combines proprietary hardware (SimWall protective panels, SimStriker robotic targetry, 4GAV live-virtual bridge) with proprietary software platforms (Ecfect_OS, ACIES) and integrates synthetic UAS (drone) simulation for realistic combined-arms and urban training. Configurable SmartFacility Levels 1–5 let customers scale the system from core rooms to full multi-storey urban environments.
Is 4GD a public or private company?
4GD is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was 4GD founded?
4GD was founded in 2016. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is 4GD based?
4GD is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does 4GD make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. SmartFacility Training Infrastructure is the primary driver. The others are simStriker Target Systems, software Platforms (Ecfect_OS, ACIES) and upgrades and Expansions.
Who are 4GD's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Thales (Training & Simulation), CAE Inc., Leonardo DRS, Cubic Corporation, Rheinmetall (Training and Simulation) and Saab (Training & Simulation). Anduril Industries is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Bohemia Interactive Simulations (BISim) and SimIS. Mass General Brigham MESH (formerly Human Performance Center) is listed as an others.
Does 4GD have an API?
No public API is recorded for 4GD.
What industry is 4GD in?
4GD's product category is Military Training Systems. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIAHAC, Defense R&D, Test, Evaluation & Innovation, with a secondary code of IMABAOAI, Autonomous Defense Systems (AI/ML, Swarming, MUM-T). Its NAICS code is 54151 and its SIC code is 7373.