In a notable achievement, the Mobile Communication System of the German Armed Forces, known as MobKommSysBw, successfully completed the Coalition Warrior Interoperability eXploration, eXperimentation, eXamination eXercise (CWIX) in 2023. Administered by NATO’s latest standards, the system achieved a remarkable 100% success rate in solving test cases, showcasing its compatibility with the highest NATO expansion level, known as Federated Mission Networking (FMN) conformity.
The CWIX exercise is renowned for its experimental nature, often leading to unresolved test cases. However, this year’s exercise proved exceptional, as Oberstabsfeldwebel Daniel S. highlighted the team’s accomplishment of solving 100% of the test cases—a rarity in CWIX exercises.
The objective of MobKommSysBw is to connect participating nations to a shared protected core network called the “Protected Core Network” (PCN) during joint NATO missions. Through this network, various communication and data exchange services are provided. For instance, the system enables seamless communication, including phone calls and video conferences, between different nations that utilize their own systems. Oberstabsfeldwebel Daniel S. emphasized the inclusivity of the system, stating that “we can connect not only Germans but also all nations.” This capability marks a significant departure from the previous practice of each nation having its own core network during joint missions or exercises. Now, all nations can be integrated into a large shared PCN network, facilitating enhanced cooperation.
The CWIX exercise in 2023 focused on Spiral 4, wherein Greece and France served as the test partners. The testing was conducted using mobile field-ready systems deployed by the IT Battalion 282 from Kastellaun, consisting of four 15-ton trucks stationed in Bydgoszcz. The MobKommSysBw team, comprising a total of 17 soldiers from the Cyber and Information Space domain, included members from IT Battalions 292 and 383, as well as the Command IT Services of the German Armed Forces. Oberstabsfeldwebel Daniel S., leading a 30-member MobKommSys unit in Kastellaun, expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance and praised their motivation. He emphasized the importance of the participating nations’ systems operating interoperably within a secure network to ensure the success of multinational missions.
Highlighting the future prospects, Oberstleutnant Christian F., Head of the Operations Center at the IT Battalion in Kastellaun, acknowledged that the development of interoperability would continue to progress. He anticipated that more actors would align with the currently tested Spiral 4 standard, thereby facilitating easier participation. Christian F. stressed the importance of configuration over hardware, stating that any open network from other nations could be utilized to establish secure connections among them. He emphasized that the provided configuration guidelines were precise and functional, while hardware compatibility was not a prerequisite. Christian F. also highlighted the benefits of a heterogeneous equipment setup, as it mitigated risks associated with faulty batches or business bankruptcies, ensuring that not all nations would be affected simultaneously.
With the completion of the CWIX exercise, the final report will be sent to the Coalition Interoperability Assurance and Validation (CIAV) for evaluation. The report will verify whether the solved test cases align with the required level of interoperability. Successful certification will allow the official utilization of the MobKommSysBw system within NATO. Following their return to Kastellaun, Christian F. and Daniel S. will continue training soldiers on the new system standard, enabling them to provide services based on the tested capabilities. The achievements of this exercise will serve as a foundation for further development and expansion of the established network.