Marineworkshop: AI-Driven Tactical Innovation for Naval Superiority with GhostPlay@SEA

At the 27th DWT Marine Workshop, Christoph Mannel of 21strategies presented the company’s latest contribution to the future of maritime operations: GhostPlay@SEA – a pioneering AI-based extension of the Defense Metaverse for the naval domain.

Modern naval warfare is transforming rapidly. Autonomous systems, hybrid threats, and data-driven command are redefining how superiority is achieved at sea. Tactical advantage is no longer about deploying more platforms, but about leveraging more intelligence in coordination.

With the GhostPlay@SEA-project and its simulation-driven AI training environment, maritime tactics can be developed, evaluated, and validated before they are applied in real-world missions.

Built upon the proven Defense Metaverse – the AI Factory of the German Armed Forces – GhostPlay@SEA adapts this technology to maritime warfare. 21strategies’ Third Wave AI approach is extended to naval operations characterized by Manned/Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) and autonomous swarms.

At its core, GhostPlay@SEA uses context-aware decision models. This allows emergent coordination and tactical behavior to be simulated in complex, uncertain environments – without centralized control. The result: highly realistic tactical simulations that serve as a virtual lab for new naval doctrines.

One of the most groundbreaking innovations will be the Sim2Live Bridge – a software architecture and process designed to transfer AI-trained GhostPlay@SEA tactics from simulation to real maritime platforms.

This will close the gap between virtual AI policy development and physical operational readiness, marking a major step toward tactical autonomy at sea.

Beyond simulation, AI-assisted tools for situational analysis and real-time mission planning enable navies to test and refine tactical concepts before procurement of new systems, maximizing the performance of existing assets.

Further extending this capability, 21strategies is developing the KI Companion Computer for deployment on physical systems – the Joint Autonomous Tactical Operations Core (JATOC). This component will be central to the future of software-defined naval warfare.

By combining the Defense Metaverse, the Sim2Live Bridge, and JATOC, 21strategies is delivering essential building blocks for AI-enabled maritime superiority.

GhostPlay@SEA stands as a cornerstone of the Marine 2035+ vision – where agility, adaptability, and autonomy define success on the seas.

“Tactical superiority will no longer come from having more platforms, but from having smarter coordination,” says Christoph Mannel. “GhostPlay@SEA embodies that shift – from data to tactical superiority.”