3,000 technicians, operators, and engineers, 40 nations, 573 capabilities and systems tested, more than 25,000 tests conducted across 18 Focus Areas and all five operational domains. The largest Coalition Warrior Interoperability Exercise to date has just concluded at the NATO Joint Force Training Centre in Bydgoszcz, Poland. For another year in a row, the NATO Allied Command Transformation-led event, held between 2 and 20 June, tested and improved the allied digital interoperability.
“Success depends on the seamless integration of Allied capabilities. CWIX delivers that interoperability,” – said NATO Supreme Allied Commander Transformation Adm. Pierre Vandier at The Coalition Warrior Interoperability Exercise, CWIX25.
- Focus on Multi-Domain Operations
At CWIX, software and IT experts work side-by-side with warfighters, ensuring their operational requirements are met. This year’s event was more operationally focused than ever, with engagement of NATO Space Centre of Excellence, and increased involvement from Allied Command Operations through Cyberspace Operations Centre, Allied Land Command, Allied Maritime Command, Allied Air Command, and Joint Force Command Naples.
“As a testing community, we have a shared responsibility. Our efforts directly support Soldiers who are preparing for worst-case scenarios – and for some of our colleagues, those scenarios are part of their daily reality”, said Major General Bogdan Rycerski, JFTC Commander.
CWIX25’s focus was sharper than ever on Multi-Domain Operations and accelerating Allied digital transformation. Experts worked hand in hand to hone cross-domain information exchange by improving the building blocks of Multi-Domain Operations – technology, standards and specifications. A joint vignette scenario conducted in the last days of the exercise showcased the improved and integrated cross-domain information exchange that would equip the commanders with enhanced situational awareness for rapid and data-driven decision-making.
- Focus on Innovation
“CWIX is more than just an exercise, it is what we proudly call the gold standard for assuring digital interoperability. Here, we lay the foundation for modern, networked military operations. In a world where information superiority determines victory or defeat, CWIX contributes to technological dominance on the battlefield”, marked Commander (Navy) Georg Klein, the CWIX Director.
For the first time, CWIX25 feature an “Innovation Sandbox”. This was where startups from industry brought their cutting-edge capabilities – which are still in development – and integrated interoperability by design, so they were cohesive from the outset. This area incubated innovative and collaborative spirit of NATO. With support from the Defence Innovation Accelerator of the North Atlantic (DIANA), this dedicated space provided a startup-like environment for new tech to tackle Interoperability challenges head-on.
This year’s exercise also highlighted a number of capabilities that leverage Artificial Intelligence, reflecting NATO and Nations’ amplified capacity to test and develop emerging and disruptive technologies, and thus maintaining NATO’s technological advantage.
- JFTC – the Home of CWIX
CWIX is the NATO premier annual interoperability testing event. For over 25 years, the event has been the platform for NATO, Nations and industry to de-risk command and control capabilities and IT services for Allied missions, and to incorporate lessons learned into future capability development. NATO Joint Force Training Centre has hosted the event for the past 15 years. This year’s exercise was the largest to date.
To make such a demanding and complex exercise run smoothly, a team of JFTC committed staff members, supported by the Host Nation, Poland, worked tirelessly for long months. They adjusted JFTC’s existing infrastructure, built two additional tent areas and tailored them to meet CWIX requirements. That required extensive effort and joint commitment of many branches, starting from Security, through Real Life Support, Budget and Finance, Protocol, Central Registry, Public Affairs, to the Officer with Primary Responsibility and his team. The environment created thanks to their expertise and professionalism, allowed CWIX participants to conduct their important mission at the highest level.
In addition, numerous JFTC staff members supported or even led several CWIX25’s Focus Areas and Working Groups. This made JFTC more that just the host of CWIX – the important enabler of the exercise.
- About CWIX
CWIX is the premier opportunity for NATO and nations to test and improve the digital interoperability that binds Alliance and Partner command and control capabilities and information technology services together. Led by Headquarters Supreme Allied Command Transformation, endorsed by the NATO’s North Atlantic Council, directed by the Military Committee, and guided by the Digital Policy Committee, CWIX is operationally driven and technically supported to meet Alliance and Partner Nation interoperability validation and verification requirements. CWIX provides NATO, member and partner nations and other organizations with a controlled environment to try-fail-fix and try again while testing interoperability of their systems to continuously improve NATO interoperability and resilience in future crisis.
To learn more about CWIX, visit https://www.act.nato.int/activities/federated-interoperability/
