Defence has taken a significant step forward in exploring the future of military operations with the staging of its first Innovation and Asymmetry Wargame. This groundbreaking event, led by the Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG), brought together more than 200 attendees at DSTG Edinburgh in South Australia. The hybrid wargaming activity aimed to delve into how emerging technologies might reshape the battlefield and provide Australia with an asymmetric advantage.
Utilising expertise from the Joint Experimentation Directorate, DSTG designed and delivered the event with custom wargaming tools. Participants from across Defence and international partners were immersed in a realistic scenario set in 2035. This immersive environment allowed them to employ a wide range of innovation, science, and technology (IS&T) interventions, combining novel concepts and potentially game-changing capabilities.
A key tool in this exercise was the Joint Operational Understanding and Scrutiny Tool, which recorded the wargame and enabled participants to step forward and back between turns to explore alternative outcomes. This capability provided a dynamic and flexible approach to understanding the implications of various strategic decisions.
“The operational-level wargame allowed participants to leverage the power of experimentation to explore future capabilities and their potential to deliver an asymmetric advantage for Australia,” said Chief Defence Scientist Professor Tanya Monro. “This is the capstone event in DSTG’s campaign of experimentation that provides the foundation of our effort to accelerate the most promising technologies into capabilities, giving the Australian Defence Force an edge.”
The primary focus of the Innovation and Asymmetry Wargame was to create an environment for Defence to experiment with IS&T options that could mitigate the most significant strategic challenges. By doing so, Defence aims to stay ahead of emerging threats and develop innovative solutions to complex problems.
The event also served as a valuable opportunity for trusted partners from the wider IS&T community to learn more about Defence’s priorities. This deeper understanding is expected to inspire further innovation and collaboration. Attendees from industry, universities, and national security agencies were invited to see firsthand how Defence generates data through experimentation. This evidence forms the basis of real-world decisions about everything from military tactics to prioritisation and investment.
As Defence continues to navigate an increasingly complex global landscape, the insights and data gathered during this wargame will be instrumental in reducing risk and informing decision-making across the Defence IS&T ecosystem. The Innovation and Asymmetry Wargame not only highlights the importance of experimentation but also underscores Defence’s commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology to maintain a strategic edge.