GhostPlay@SEA is part of the Bundeswehr technology program dtec.bw and builds on the achievements of the original GhostPlay project. Previously, GhostPlay established a ‘Defence Metaverse’, a high-performance simulation environment for AI-driven combat scenarios on land and in the air.
The new project aims to extend this vision to the maritime domain, focusing on the development and evaluation of AI-supported tactical behaviour and decision-making processes in naval warfare. A key objective is to transfer virtually trained tactics to real-world hardware, enhancing practical applicability.
Dr Jeronimo Dzaack, Co-Head of Future Tech at ATLAS ELEKTRONIK, stated, “GhostPlay@SEA aims to fundamentally change the way future naval operations are planned and conducted and to further expand the technological leadership of all partners involved. In the virtual environment, highly complex combat situations can be realistically simulated, and optimal tactics can be safely tested.”
By leveraging state-of-the-art AI and simulation technologies, the project allows the simulation of future threat scenarios, including drone swarms and autonomous submarines, in a secure virtual space. Dr Dzaack added, “This makes it possible to test and optimize tactical concepts at an early stage, even before real systems are deployed. The knowledge gained in this way flows directly into the development of new maritime defence technologies.”
The GhostPlay@SEA consortium includes notable contributors from both academia and industry, such as the Helmut Schmidt University / University of the Federal Armed Forces Hamburg, HENSOLDT, 21Strategies, Rheinmetall, and Borchert Research Consulting. This collaboration highlights the innovative capabilities of the German defence sector amid digital transformation.
The project represents a pioneering effort to create a digital combat training environment, paving the way for the next generation of maritime defence technologies. By fostering artificial tactical excellence, GhostPlay@SEA is poised to enhance the future operational capacity of naval forces.
