In the JFTC in Bydgoszcz, nearly 3,000 specialists in communication and command support systems from 40 countries – NATO members and partner countries – tested over 570 different types of ICT solutions supporting troops in combat for 3 weeks. The tests were carried out as part of the largest interoperability exercises of the Natovian name "CWIX".
For the 14th time in Bydgoszcz NATO Joint Forces Training Centre (JFTC) For 3 weeks in June, it was at the centre of NATO's interest. As of 2011, the NATO Allied Transformation Command (ACT), 1 of the 2 most crucial North Atlantic Alliance commanders, in the Kuyaw-distributed institution organized the largest interoperability exercises in the Alliance. In short, they bring together communication systems, command support and combat management from all NATO countries and partner countries at 1 time and place. Specialists not only military, but besides civilians from different companies and investigation institutions test them, checking whether they are compatible adequate to operate in a coordinated way on the battlefield. This year's edition of "CWIX" began on 2 June and will end today.
Admiral Pierre Vandier, NATO's chief allied commander for transformation, who is formally trained, stressed on 18 June during his visit to Bydgoszcz that interoperability is the key to the functioning of the full Alliance. “ NATO missions require armed forces from many countries to work together. Sometimes in limited time, under force and in all domains, from airspace patrolling to advanced cyber deterrence and defense. Success depends on the perfect combination of allied possibilities," Vandier said. During the exercise we focus on improving the tested systems. We verify them before they are essential under real conditions.
The Admiral pointed out that “CWIX” is not just a workshop for technicians, programmers or another ICT specialists. – During the exercise, we besides have the chance to check how our doctrines and norms, which we use, work in reality, and whether any of our expectations are not a list of wishful wishes and whether they request to be decently verified," he said.
Kmdr Georg Klein, who served as the manager of ‘CWIX ‘25’, commented that interoperability from a method point of view of the capabilities of command and communication support systems, their compliance with certain standards and guidelines, was easy to describe, but this is much wider. – Interoperability on "CWIX" is not just technology. It's not about connecting plugs to sockets and getting communications. This is primarily about people who cooperate with each other," noted the German officer.
During the exercises, armies from 40 countries: 31 NATO members, 5 partner countries (Ukraine, Switzerland, Austria, Moldova and Georgia) and 3 observers (Ireland, Iraq, South Korea) decided to test and check over 570 different types of ICT solutions. 1 of the surveyed groups was systems designed for field medicine. – We measure how these solutions work at all phase of the combat operation. How they collect data, how they verify them, group them, measure them, and pass them on. There are quite a few tests, and the lessons learned and the lessons learned will surely be very useful both for their creators and for the troops," commented Colonel Steven Tracey, who headed the medical region "CWIX ‘25".
The British officer explained that in addition to the products already implemented in NATO armies, innovative solutions of small, only-growing companies are besides being tested. Those entities whose technologies seem promising to the military, NATO has selected under the "DIANA" (Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic) programme.
