The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) has been working with partners from the computer games industry to develop a new generation of tools that are helping military leaders make effective decisions.

Utilising the creative talents of the gaming industry, Dstl has been able to reinforce strategic and high-level decision-making by defence leaders.

Along with computer games company Slitherine, Dstl has developed a new generation of professional war games, providing military leaders with better tools to make effective decisions, which will help make the UK safer and more prosperous.

The wargames aim to inform the military’s force structure; assess capability; and support operational and contingency planning.

Commercial games provide a better user experience compared with traditional analytical tools, which can require significant experience to operate. The gaming approach has generated a 50 pe cent reduction in analysis time and costs.