There is a view of the mountains of Afghanistan through an open tent flap. A flak jacket hangs over the back of a chair. A plasma screen relays decrypted video filmed from the nose of a reconnaissance drone that is patrolling the desert. But appearances are deceptive. This is not a British Army divisional HQ in Helmand. Instead, it is a mock-up created by the European defence giant EADS within its Newport research and business centre. Outside, the countryside is verdant and light rain is falling. We are very much in Wales.

The mock-up gives EADS a chance to show off its communications technology to army officers and defence procurement officials in an environment more realistic than a laboratory test bench. The tendency for commanders to lose track of their troops is a famous military phenomenon referred to as “the fog of war”. EADS’ aim is to help dispel that fog, while keeping communications safely impenetrable to the enemy. Its systems, displayed across a series of screens, give commanders the chance to simulate different missions to optimise outcomes.