Illustration showing digital versions of soldiers (Credit: Adobe Stock)

GenWar Sim

Our Contribution

AI-Driven Wargaming

APL’s GenWar Sim capability integrates large language models (LLMs) with the Advanced Framework for Simulation, Integration, and Modeling (AFSIM)—making high-fidelity simulations accessible to users through natural language interaction. This pairing enables rapid ideation and traceable decision modeling without requiring deep technical knowledge of modeling and simulation tools. Analysts, planners, and even novice users can explore a wide array of plausible courses of action—each supported by AI-informed dialogue and physics-based adjudication—unlocking deeper postgame analysis and a broader set of strategic insights than ever before.

Related Areas of Impact

Mission Area

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Illustrative depiction of GenWar capability (Credit: Johns Hopkins APL/Karim Whalen)

In this conceptual demonstration of the generative wargaming capability, the Blue Team is assigned the task of selecting five assets to support the mission objective. Using natural language, the team requests strategic recommendations, and the model responds with a range of viable options. Once the Blue Team confirms its orders, outcomes are adjudicated through modeling and simulation, with results presented in the chat interface. The interface shown is a notional prototype, and all depicted locations are entirely fictional.

Credit: Johns Hopkins APL/Karim Whalen

Related Reading
Students move pieces around the board during a war-game based on Pacific conflict while attending Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, December 21, 2023. Game phases are actioned with a deck of cards, spawning new and viable assets with each play. These items can range from instituting an element of air superiority to launching an information campaign. (U.S. Air Force photo by Billy Blankenship) (VIRIN: 231221-F-VZ654-1004)
Opinion

Defense News // July 29, 2025

Wargaming Is Having Its ‘Moneyball’ Moment Andrew Mara, Kelly Diaz, and Kevin Mather


Learn more about Wargaming Is Having Its ‘Moneyball’ Moment

Senior leaders in the Department of Defense have been seeking something like this for more than a decade, and I think we are finally at the point where the demand signal and the technology are in alignment. Pair that with an outstanding team here at APL and I think we have a chance to change the very nature of wargaming in the national security community.

Andrew Mara Sector Head, Force Projection
Andrew Mara

Meet Our Experts

Kelly Diaz

Kelly Diaz Program Manager, Advanced Concepts and Capabilities

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Kevin Mather

Kevin Mather Supervisor, Operations and Program Analysis Group

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Ben Gien

Benjamin Gien Modeling and Simulation Analyst

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Drew Aumick

Drew Aumick Software Architect

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Related News

Rendering of holographic soldiers walking through a digital environment (Credit: Adobe Stock)

Johns Hopkins APL Establishes AI Wargaming Lab to Boost Strategic National Security Analysis and Planning Support Oct 30, 2025

APL is fusing its analytic and cutting-edge AI capabilities into a forward-leaning incubator, known as GenWar Lab, that leverages advanced AI and large language model capabilities to support the wargames and tabletop exercises that enable military decision-makers to explore dynamic and wide-ranging mission scenarios.
Learn more about Johns Hopkins APL Establishes AI Wargaming Lab to Boost Strategic National Security Analysis and Planning Support
Virtual Soldiers (Credit: Adobe Stock)

Generative AI Wargaming Promises to Accelerate Mission Analysis Mar 3, 2025

A team at Johns Hopkins APL is creating an artificial intelligence-driven capability that automates much of the work that goes into designing, setting up, developing and running wargames. The effort holds promise to dramatically amplify the impact and value of wargames and similar exercises for the military and other government agencies.
Learn more about Generative AI Wargaming Promises to Accelerate Mission Analysis
Related Work
Devin Ramsden, an AI developer at APL, demonstrates a large language model (LLM) grounded by a direct acyclic graph (DAG) to assist warfighters in administering critical care on the battlefield.

Mission-Focused Generative AI

Inventing the future of artificial intelligence for the nation by advancing frontier models that enable creativity, subject-matter expertise, and personification
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Related Expertise

Generative WargamingModeling and SimulationSoftware Development and ElectronicsTabletop Exercises
Related Areas of Impact

Mission Area