We’ve been named as a founding mission partner for a new international Esports gaming tournament aimed at training military personnel and upskilling the defence community in essential cyber and digital skills.
Military teams from across 12 allied nations, including the UK, will compete during the International Defence Esports Games (IDEG) as part of a collaborative initiative between the Ministry of Defence, the British Esports Federation, and industry.
The competition has been developed in response to the changing landscape of warfare and will help military teams develop critical battlefield skills such as tracking multiple threats at once and directing soldiers on the ground under intense pressure – all through the medium of gaming.
Neal Misell, CEO Mission Systems, said: “Modern warfare is evolving, and the defence community must navigate both physical and digital battlegrounds. Esports will play a vital role in attracting and developing the digital and cyber skills that we need to meet this challenge. Coming just a few short months after the launch of Nomad™, our AI enabled intelligence tool for frontline decision making, we are passionate about supporting our armed forces with the tools that give them winning edge.
“We’re proud to be one of the founding mission partners of this pioneering international competition, uniting gamers from allied nations worldwide and strengthening defence partnerships.”
General Sir Tom Copinger-Symes, Deputy Commander of Cyber and Specialist Operations Command, said: “The International Defence Esports Games represent a significant step forward in developing the cyber and digital skills essential for modern military operations. Lessons from conflicts including Ukraine have demonstrated the real-world value of gaming technology in training drone operators and enhancing cyber capabilities.
“IDEG will strengthen our warfighting readiness whilst building crucial partnerships with allied nations who share our commitment to technological innovation in defence.”
The competition finals will be held in Sunderland in October 2026 and will feature live-streamed tournaments and strategic summits exploring cyber security, AI, and drone operations.
British Esports President, Chester King, said: “The launch of the IDEG is a historic occasion for British Esports and military personnel worldwide. We are honoured to host the inaugural finals at our National Esports Performance Campus in Sunderland, which will showcase our world-class facilities and the city and region’s emerging status as a digital innovation cluster. “
The UK officially recognised Esports as a military sport in 2024, and the IDEG acts as a collaborative arena for allied nations to sharpen the cyber skills that are critical for modern warfare — supporting the Government’s Plan for Change to strengthen national security. We’re also supporting this mission through Nomad™ which was launched this summer and is our first fully AI-powered product that can clean, transcribe, translate, and analyse voice and text data, providing real-time intelligence directly to users on the battlefield.