Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) sits at the intersection of civil resilience and national security. From energy grids and transport systems to undersea cables, satellite networks, and water supply, these interconnected systems underpin the functioning of society and the operational readiness of armed forces. When disrupted – through cyberattack, sabotage, hybrid campaigns, or climate-driven shocks – the cascading effects can jeopardise civilian safety, destabilise the economy, and compromise military capability.
The UK 2025 Strategic Defence Review highlights the urgent need for a “new deal” to secure and defend CNI, rooted in partnership between Defence, government, private operators, and allies. In an era of intensifying hybrid threats, safeguarding infrastructure is no longer just a technical task but a strategic imperative.
Our CNI x Military wargames place Defence leaders and policymakers inside plausible near-future scenarios where hybrid threats target infrastructure across multiple domains. Participants must navigate dilemmas where civilian dependency, military necessity, and adversary activity intersect.
Structured expert adjudication ensures the scenarios reflect real-world vulnerabilities, from cyberattacks on power grids to sabotage of undersea cables. Integrated red teaming challenges assumptions and exposes blind spots, helping participants to avoid “failures of imagination” in planning.
In the Game, Teams Grapple With:
Disruptions to CNI will not wait for military planners to catch up. Wargaming provides defence leaders with the opportunity to rehearse complex crisis-response strategies, test cross-sector coordination, and evaluate the cascading effects before a real crisis strikes.
The result is sharper judgment, stronger strategy, and improved resilience: armed forces better prepared to protect infrastructure at home, sustain operations abroad, and work seamlessly with government and private partners in an integrated defence of national life.
