NATO MW COE and XRF Launch Wargame Digitalisation Initiative under NATO DIANA Framework

The NATO Mountain Warfare Centre of Excellence (MW COE) conducted a two-day professional wargaming and experimentation activity in Poljče, Slovenia, focused on advancing military decision-making through manual wargaming methodologies and the digitalisation of tactical-level training systems. The activity brought together experts from the NATO DIANA Innovator Cohort 2026 company XRF and representatives from the Netherlands Ministry of Defence to explore the operational potential of analogue Kriegsspiel-style wargames and their future transformation into digitally enabled military training capabilities.

The event formed part of a broader programme of work developed under the NATO Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) umbrella, combining military experimentation, innovation cooperation, and capability development. During the activity, participants from XRF and the Netherlands MoD were introduced to the fundamentals of manual operational wargaming through practical application of two tactical mountain warfare games developed by the MW COE Concept Development and Experimentation (CD&E) Branch: Red Storm Mountain and Battle for Begunjščica (BOB).

The primary objective of the learning activity was to familiarise participants with the mechanics, logic, and operational grammar of classic Kriegsspiel-type wargaming. Unlike commercial entertainment-oriented wargames, military Kriegsspiel systems are designed to support tactical analysis, operational planning, and decision-making under uncertainty. The MW COE-developed systems specifically focus on mountain warfare conditions, terrain-driven combat dynamics, and integration of emerging battlefield technologies into combined arms tactical operations.

The first game, Red Storm Mountain, introduced participants to tactical decision-making processes and manual Military Decision-Making Process (MDMP) support tools. The second game, Battle for Begunjščica, expanded the learning environment by incorporating tactical engagements with operational-level implications in a complex mountain battlespace. The BOB system models terrain dominance, ridgeline control, line-of-sight limitations, weather impacts, reconnaissance operations, and manoeuvre warfare within restrictive alpine terrain.

A significant aspect of the BOB wargame is its role in supporting experimentation related to drone integration within combined arms tactical units operating in mountainous terrain. The game includes terrain concealment effects, reconnaissance limitations, and unmanned aerial system (UAS) operational considerations, enabling military planners and innovators to assess how drones affect reconnaissance, targeting, survivability, and manoeuvre in high-altitude combat environments. Through repeated gameplay iterations, the MW COE has used the system as a discovery experimentation platform for testing tactical concepts and operational hypotheses relevant to future NATO mountain warfare operations.

Parallel to the educational component of the event, the activity also marked the formal launch of a new cooperation initiative between NATO MW COE and XRF focused on the digitalisation of the Battle for Begunjščica wargame. During the event, XRF CEO Gustavo Medina del Rosario and MW COE CD&E Branch Head Capt(N) Peter Papler signed a programme for the development of a digital Minimum Viable Product (MVP) version of the BOB wargame. XRF CEO Gustavo Medina del Rosario and the MW COE Director also signed a Letter of Cooperation establishing the cooperation framework.

The digitalisation programme aims to transform the manually operated tactical wargame into a digitally enabled experimentation and training platform capable of supporting operational planning, distributed training, and future NATO experimentation activities. The initiative combines military operational expertise from the MW COE with XRF’s technological innovation capabilities under the DIANA innovation ecosystem.

According to the agreed programme of work, development activities will continue between 18 May and 12 June, focusing on MVP creation, gameplay logic translation, and digital experimentation architecture. The resulting prototype will support further testing during the NATO MW COE Operational Planning Course scheduled for 8–12 June. The MVP demonstration is planned for the NATO DIANA International Demo Days in Paris in June 2026.

The cooperation reflects NATO’s increasing focus on combining operational expertise with emerging technology innovation to accelerate military adaptation. By digitalising manual wargames that already possess validated tactical logic and operational relevance, NATO organisations can reduce development timelines while preserving doctrinal and tactical realism.

From a military capability development perspective, the initiative also demonstrates the continuing relevance of manual wargaming as a foundational tool for professional military education, experimentation, and concept development. While digital simulation environments provide scalability and computational advantages, manual wargaming remains uniquely valuable for understanding decision cycles, commander intent, tactical friction, and human interaction within combat systems. The educational phase conducted in Poljče intentionally exposed innovators and defence technology developers to this military decision-making culture before beginning software development activities.

The Battle for Begunjščica digitalisation effort further supports NATO’s broader transformation objectives related to synthetic environments, distributed training, and AI-assisted operational planning tools. By integrating manual wargame mechanics into digital systems, future iterations may enable data collection, behavioural analysis, operational trend identification, and integration with additional modelling and simulation environments.

For the MW COE CD&E Branch, the initiative represents another step in expanding mountain warfare experimentation capabilities and strengthening cooperation between NATO operational communities and defence innovation ecosystems. The project also highlights the growing importance of terrain-focused operational experimentation as NATO continues to adapt to increasingly complex operational environments where geography, technology, autonomy, and multi-domain integration intersect.

Through cooperation under the NATO DIANA framework, the NATO MW COE and XRF are contributing to the development of agile, operationally grounded, and technologically enabled tools designed to support future Alliance readiness and tactical adaptation.