Improving coalition combat ID exercise wraps up

  • Published
  • By Casey Bain
  • Joint Fires Integration and Interoperability Team
CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. --  The U.S. Joint Forces Command's exercise designed to examine advanced combat identification technologies that could reduce the risk of fratricide on future battlefields has completed its final missions here and at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C.

Bold Quest 09 was a U.S. Joint Forces Command's Joint Capability Development Directorate led coalition combat identification advanced concept technology demonstration.

"Our focus now is on conducting post-event analysis so that we can inform U.S. and allied investment decision-makers about the performance of these important CID technologies," said John Miller, USJFCOM Joint Capability Integration and Fires Division's BQ 09 operational manager. "We believe our BQ team was able to successfully collect the information needed to perform a thorough assessment of these respective CID technologies. We couldn't have done this without the tremendous cooperation of our entire joint and coalition team."

The USJFCOM's Joint Fires Integration and Interoperability Team participated in the BQ effort that included representation from all U.S. services and 10 partner nations including Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

"Great teamwork across the board," said Maj. Paul Brenner, JFIIT operational lead at BQ 09. "The entire USJFCOM and coalition team of planners, operators and participants have made this a very successful event that will bring us another step closer to reducing the potential of fratricide during future military operations."

Bold Quest 09 allowed U.S. forces to team with their multinational partners to demonstrate and assess cooperative CID technologies that could provide warfighters with means to better identify friendly forces on the battlefield.

"Germany has been an active member of the CCID community for several years now," said German Air Force Lt. Col. Georg Leben, German Air Force Command lead at BQ 09. "Our nation's view is that we must develop a reliable system that can be fielded almost instantly and be affordable at the same time. BQ 09 provided us with the best opportunity available to test our system in a realistic coalition environment."

"Testing and TTP (tactics, techniques, and procedures) development," said British Royal Army Capt. Sam Osei-agyemang from the U.K. Joint Air Land Organization. "That's what we've gained from participating in BQ 09. We're learning the best ways to use digitally aided close air support. We got to see our kit work in a coalition environment and that made BQ 09 incredibly useful."

The objective of BQ 09 was to assess air-to-ground CID technologies in a stressful and challenging operational environment to enhance coalition combat effectiveness and reduce the potential of fratricide across all services, and with our allies.

"BQ is a complex exercise to plan and execute," said Norwegian Army Lt. Col. Bjorn Kristiansen, Norway's national lead at BQ 09. "The strength of this exercise is that it brings so many resources to one place and time that allows us to validate our CID technologies in a highly realistic coalition environment. We have developed a strong working relationship with USJFCOM and I believe we'll have an ambition to participate in future Bold Quest events."

Marines from Camp Lejeune, N.C., involved in the exercise also valued the opportunity to participate in the exercise.

"In combat, the only thing worse than enemy fire is incoming friendly fire," said Marine Corps Sgt. Aldo Wong, section leader, Mobility Counter-Mobility Platoon, Headquarters &Service Company, 2nd Assault Amphibious Battalion, Camp Lejeune. "Bold Quest provided us with a challenging environment to operate in which is the only way to solve the complex issue of CID."

According to Bold Quest leaders, the data collected during the demonstration will be analyzed in the coming months to provide national decision-makers with the information they require to determine the military utility of these technologies and to help make informed CID equipment procurement and fielding decisions.

The BQ 09 technical initiatives included prototype systems to enable aircrew and controllers to exchange position information digitally with friendly ground elements relative to their proximity to potential ground targets. The expected outcome will improve the target acquisition processes to reduce the risk of fratricide.

"While technology will never replace sound judgment and leadership on the battlefield, it can provide more time and situational understanding at the shooter-level to make those crucial engagement decisions," Mr. Miller added. "This was all about enhancing coalition combat effectiveness and reducing fratricide in today's complex warfighting environment - it doesn't get more important than that."