Defensive Future Studies

Defensive Future Studies

Factors Influencing the Cyber Range: A Framework for ‎Preparing and Simulating Future Cyber-Based Battles

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Mohammad Ghasemi Tadavani 1
Mohammad Taghi Partovi 2
Hamid Bigdeli 3
Mojtaba Ramezanzadeh 4
1 PHD Student of Defense Management‎/IRI Military Command and Staff University/ Tehran/ Iran
2 Assistant Professor of Operations Research‎/IRI Military Command and Staff University/ Tehran/ Iran
3 Associate Professor of Operations Research/IRI Military Command and Staff University/ Tehran/ Iran
4 Assistant Professor of Cyber/IRI Military Command and Staff University/ Tehran/ Iran
10.22034/dfsr.2026.2080098.1990
Abstract
Background and Objective: The rapid integration of information ‎technologies into the operational domains of land, sea, air, ‎and ‎space has transformed the battlefield into a multilayered, data-‎driven environment that ‎depends on human–machine interaction. ‎The cyber range, as a critical infrastructure, enables ‎force training, ‎doctrinal testing, and improved decision-making. The objective of ‎this study is ‎to analyze the effects of the physical, virtual and ‎command/management layers on the ‎effectiveness of the cyber ‎range.‎
Methods: This research is descriptive in nature and employs a ‎mixed-methods approach. The qualitative ‎analysis involved ‎reviewing specialized documents and conducting expert ‎interviews. The ‎quantitative analysis was carried out using ‎correlation analysis and multivariate regression in ‎order to ‎determine the extent to which each layer influences the dependent ‎variable.‎
Findings: The results indicate that the physical, virtual and ‎command/management layers all have ‎positive, direct, and ‎statistically significant relationships with the cyber range. The ‎physical ‎layer, with the highest standardized beta coefficient, was ‎identified as the strongest predictor, ‎emphasizing the critical role ‎of infrastructure and hardware in ensuring realism and stability. ‎‎The virtual and command layers respectively contribute to ‎enhancing interactivity and the ‎effective utilization of the range. ‎The coefficient of determination (R² = 0.941) demonstrates ‎the ‎high explanatory power of the proposed model.‎
Conclusions: The success of cyber ranges requires integration and ‎synergy among all three layers. These ‎findings suggest that the ‎design and development of cyber ranges are not only a ‎technological ‎necessity, but also a strategic imperative for ‎readiness, deterrence, and superiority in future ‎multi-domain ‎warfare.‎
Keywords
Cyber range layer
Physical layer
Virtual layer
Command/management layer
Subjects
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Defensive Future Studies
Volume 11, Issue 40
Spring 2026
Pages 203-238