Exercise launches to improve Coalition Combat Identification

  • Published
  • By Cherie Johnson and Casey Bain
  • Joint Fires Integration and Interoperability Public Affairs
NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. --  U.S. Joint Forces Command launched its premier Coalition Combat Identification Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration, known as Bold Quest, Sept. 10 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., and the National Training Center at Ft. Irwin, Calif.

The exercise has the monumental task of assessing combat identification in order to improve combat effectiveness and reduce fratricide across all services and with our coalition partners.

The Joint Fires Integration and Interoperability Team, a subordinate command of USJFCOM, is part of the team that includes representation from all U.S. services and an eight nation coalition. The countries participating in this event include: Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States and NATO.

"Combat identification has proven to be one of the most challenging and critical tasks facing warfighters of any generation, but is especially important in the modern era," according to U.S. Navy Cmdr., Shannon "Flash" Coulter, JFIIT operational lead at Bold Quest. "As technology has allowed significant increases in engagement range, the corresponding difficulties associated with positive target identification have also risen. Bold Quest is working hard to close the gap between when we could pull the trigger and when we should pull the trigger, based on our ability to positively identify potential targets."

John Miller, USJFCOM operational manager for the CCID ACTD, said "the U.S. priorities in this project are currently oriented on the combat identification issues involved with the engagement of ground targets by coalition aircraft. The U.S. effort in this ACTD is generally focused on the tools required by aircrew and ground controllers who coordinate the attack or drop bombs on targets, enabling them to do that more quickly and effectively than they can today."

The primary objective of Bold Quest is to assess the military utility of designated cooperative and non-cooperative target identification technologies. "As in the case today, future conflicts will be fought alongside our coalition partners," said Cmdr. Coulter. "The complexity and coordination required to execute military operations effectively in modern battlespace must be embedded in service, Joint, and coalition training prior to actual execution in combat. Bold Quest provides an incredible opportunity for coalition warfighters to come together and improve combat identification in a realistic operational environment."

More than 850 U.S. and coalition participants will take part in this two-week capstone combat identification demonstration. "This is a win-win for the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines and our allies," said Cmdr. Coulter. "Anytime you can bring together a comprehensive group of U.S. and coalition (military) experts, in and out of uniform, to participate in a well synchronized and orchestrated tactical exercise, progress will be made."