The U.S. Air Force Uses AI Wargaming System for the First Time

Reference News Network, April 18 report According to the U.S. Defense News Weekly website on April 16, the U.S. Air Force used its brand new artificial intelligence (AI) wargaming simulation system for the first time during an event at the end of last month.

The report states that the U.S. Air Force announced on the 14th that it first used the WarMatrix system during the GE 26 benchmark wargaming event on March 27, marking the transition of the system from the research and development phase to the operational application phase.

Described by the Air Force as a "dynamic wargaming environment," WarMatrix is an AI-driven system that integrates existing models, data, and workflows while accelerating analysis speed.

The U.S. Air Force stated at the end of last year that it was seeking a technology capable of generating simulated scenarios at a speed 10,000 times faster than real-time.

The Air Force's announcement stated that WarMatrix is a "human-machine collaborative system" that keeps human judgment at the core of planning and decision-making processes.

The use of WarMatrix during this event was an assessment of the system's initial operational concept, marking a shift in how the U.S. Air Force conducts operational analysis and wargaming.

The Air Force said, "WarMatrix is designed by wargaming personnel for wargaming personnel, featuring transparency, verifiability, and speed advantages, enabling decision-makers to better understand assumptions, simulation results, and trade-offs."

Air Force leaders described WarMatrix as an upgrade to wargaming rather than a replacement. The Air Force also stated that using WarMatrix can provide a more "coherent and traceable wargaming process."

The announcement also mentioned that the system's design supports faster scenario construction and result reproduction, and enhances collaboration with joint operational partners and allies.

During the event, participants completed more than six 24-hour "simulation period operations," balancing models based on physical principles and simulation to ensure that simulation results align with real-world situations. (Translated by Qing Songzhu)