The US Air Force Employed Its AI-Enabled ‘WarMatrix’ System in March Wargames

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A two-week US Air Force wargame hosted in Alexandria, Virginia, marked the first large-scale use of the “WarMatrix” AI system to guide decision-making.

Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to be among the biggest “game changers” in the modern era. It automates tasks, can be used to analyze vast amounts of data, and enhances decision-making. For those reasons and many others, AI is also impacting wargaming at all levels.

For the “gamer” community, AI promises to deliver even more realistic and immersive experiences. For the US military, however, it can help better prepare warfighters for future conflicts.

The WarMatrix Reloaded

Last month, the United States Air Force put the AI-enabled WarMatrix wargaming platform through the paces. During a two-week-long event hosted by Systems Planning and Analysis in Alexandria, Virginia, more than 150 servicemembers participated in an AI-supported wargame—including participants from Pacific Air Forces leadership and the Air Force Warfare Center, as well as from the other branches of the US military and allied partners.

“Headquarters Air Force Futures (A5/7) concluded the GE 26 Benchmark Wargame March 27, 2026, marking a significant step forward in how the Air Force conducts operational analysis and decision-informed wargaming,” the Air Force announced in a media statement. It added that the wargame “delivered a rigorous, face-paced environment designed to explore concepts, capabilities and force design considerations critical to future conflict scenarios.”

The event saw the inaugural use of the WarMatrix, which was developed to deliver simulations at “super real-time speeds” while functioning as a modular, cloud-based domain that could be used by hundreds of participants simultaneously.

How AI Has Revolutionized Wargaming

Wargaming has been practiced by militaries for millennia, allowing war planners and leaders to make plans and consider strategic options without actually committing themselves to a potentially disastrous conflict. The digital revolution has increased the number of factors to consider, creating nearly endless scenarios for military planners around the world.

The AI-enabled WarMatrix takes the experience even further. As the Air Force noted, it is a wargaming platform developed and designed by wargamers.

“WarMatrix is a human–machine teaming system built by the Department of the Air Force to enhance wargaming and operational analysis,” the Air Force explained. “Rather than replacing traditional methods, the system integrates existing models, data and workflows while accelerating analysis through artificial intelligence – keeping human judgment central to planning and adjudication.”

AI can provide greater transparency, “auditability,” and speed, which, in turn, can allow decision-makers to have a better understanding of potential outcomes.

Last month’s AI-based training exercises included more than six 24-hour game-time moves that employed realistic operational conditions, including physics-based modeling and “simulation-informed adjudication.” The technology enabled more grounded outcomes for participants to review.

By the end of the exercises, the system had delivered “decision-informative insights” to high-level leadership within the DAF, including the Secretary of the Air Force and the Chief of Staff of the Air Force. Air Force officials are reportedly reviewing the findings to determine future concepts, capabilities, and force design.

“The use of WarMatrix enabled a more connected and traceable wargaming process—capturing decisions, evidence and analytical outputs in ways not previously possible at this scale,” the Air Force wrote. “Its architecture allowed for faster scenario development, repeatable adjudication, and improved collaboration across joint and coalition partners.”

The exercises in Alexandria are likely just the first of many such AI-enabled training sessions that could provide military leadership with greater insight into how a conflict could play out. Of course, actual decision-making will still be left to human leadership—at least for now!

About the Author: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu has contributed to dozens of newspapers, magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.

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