A Decade of Military Simulation Achievements

Ten years ago, on September 24, 2013 Matrix Games released Command: Modern Air/Naval Operations, the universal military simulator designed to replicate every logistical and combat aspect of modern air and naval battlefields. In 2019, the simulator was updated to the new version, Command: Modern Operations, which includes numerous improvements and the ability to engage in conflicts on land as well.

Over the past few years, countless additional scenarios for Command: Modern Operations have been published, covering events from the recent past and hypothetical futures. Just recently, the simulator was nominated for the prestigious British TIGA 2023 award in the "Educational, Serious or Simulation Game" category.

Since 2017, Matrix Games has ventured into the professional market with Command: Professional Edition, a version tailored for defence organisations and contractors.

These organizations and entities utilize Command: Professional Edition for training operators and officers in planning and decision-making, examining logistics and conducting in-depth operational planning, analyzing the outcomes of tactical and strategic scenarios, and concept development studying the effect of planning and equipìment in any kind of engagement. They also use Command to guide future technology investment, platform design and force composition, as a training space for AI systems and even in Info operations to fight Chinese propaganda. The Professional version allows for the editing of every parameter in a scenario, from hard factors like platform data, to soft factors like rules of engagement and doctrine. This is combined with extremely detailed outputs that let users track every event that occurs in the simulation from sensor detections to weapons engagements and logistics.

Its database includes nearly every front-line aircraft, ship, sub, sensors and weapon for every country in the world and lets users run engagements from the tactical to operational scale.

To date, Command: Professional Edition is used by over 150 defence organisations across 23 countries including the U.S. Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps; UK DSTL, RAAF, Luftwaffe, as well as contractors like Boeing, BAE, and Lockheed Martin.

From 18-23 September the annual Command User Event (CUE) was held in Rome at the prestigious Casa dell'Aviatore. The event saw the participation of hundreds of professionals, high-ranking officers, and industry operators who discussed the uses of Command Professional Edition. In addition to testimonies from operators who use the simulator daily, CUE featured high-profile conferences with speakers such as Colonel (Ret.) Tim Barrick, Director of Wargaming at Krulak Center for Innovation & Future Warfare; Analyst Jaime Etherton from UK DSTL; and Dr. Pei-Shiue Hsieh from the Institute for National Defense and Security Research (Taiwan).