GovWire

The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) utilises the creative talents of the gaming industry to reinforce strategic and high-level decision-making by defence leaders.

Dstl and Slitherine (a computer games company) have developed a new generation of professional wargames. They provide military leaders with better tools to make effective decisions, which help make the UK safer and more prosperous.

These wargames aim to:

• inform the militarys force structure
• assess capability
• support operational and contingency planning

Commercial games provide a better user experience compared with traditional analytical tools. These tools can require significant experience to operate being mainly focused on the algorithms over usability and engagement.

This novel approach has generated a 50% reduction in analysis time and costs. It has successfully been used to support military contingency planning, help wargame the British Armys structure, as well as to analyse the potential of remote and autonomous systems and other novel technologies.

Slitherine/Matrix Pro Simulations, a UK-headquartered small and medium-sized enterprise based in Epsom, Surrey, has grown from 25 to 96 staff since its partnership with Dstl starting in 2019. Its 300 recreational products include huge maps of simulated battlefield areas and modelling of modern and historic combat operations, vehicles and weapons.

Dstl has also worked with Slitherine to boost representation of ethnic and cultural diversity in its games to reflect not only the changing face of the defence workforce but of society at home and abroad.