NSWC Dahlgren to Host Interoperability Demonstration

May 20, 2010 - DAHLGREN, Va. (NNS) -- Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Dahlgren, a Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) field activity, will host the 2010 Coalition Warrior Interoperability Demonstration (CWID) June 16-24.

The annual event engages information sharing and communication technology solutions to enhance military and agency operational effectiveness. NSWC Dahlgren is hosting CWID's U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Army headquarters in addition to co-located forces from coalition, U.S. Coast Guard, National Guard Bureau, and the U.S. Navy Strike Cell.

U.S. and coalition warfighters will evaluate 27 Interoperability Trials and myriad demonstrations at NSWC Dahlgren throughout the Joint Chiefs of Staff-directed event.

"CWID features three technologies that improved interoperability in Haiti after the earthquake," said CWID Dahlgren-site manager Dennis Warne. "They are among 25 trials that our visitors will see tested at Dahlgren in exercise scenarios spanning 17 time ones."

Technologies are approved for participation because they address new information-sharing capability requirements or because they might improve existing capabilities. The CWID objectives for 2010 were developed by United States Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM) in coordination with U.S. Northern Command and the program's advisory combatant commands – U.S. Central Command and U.S. European Command. These objectives are primarily derived from operational needs which are described and posted annually on the Federal Business Opportunities (www.fedbizopps.gov) website.

The demonstration evaluates technologies and capabilities for exchanging information among coalition partners, military services, government agencies, first responders and U.S. combatant commands. Information sharing technologies leverage decision-making and operational flexibility on the battlefield and during crisis response on the homefront.

Assessments will be compiled in a Final Report published later this year. USJFCOM, in its role as the leader of joint capability development, coordinates assessment results to determine which CWID trials best meet defined requirements and have the potential to fill identified capability gaps.

USJFCOM is the permanent Coalition Task Force (CTF) location for the annual CWID demonstration and provides oversight for the program. The demonstration is also taking place at partner sites around the world and U.S. locations: Joint Systems Integration Command at USJFCOM, U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps at NSWC Dahlgren, Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific, Homeland Security and Homeland Defense, U.S. Air Force Electronic Systems Center at Hanscom Air Force Base, Homeland Security and Homeland Defense and Maritime Component Command Center at North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command, Peterson Air Force Base.