Success at CWIX 2024
August 15, 2024 – Defence Stories
The Department of National Defence (DND) and Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) participation in the Coalition Warrior Interoperability eXploration, eXperimentation, eXamination, eXercise (CWIX) in June 2024 highlighted the nation's dedication to strengthening cyber defence and interoperability within NATO. Through various mission campaigns and technical tests, significant milestones were achieved, demonstrating the impact of these efforts on collective defence capabilities.
The DND/CAF’s involvement in CWIX 2024 focused on several key areas, each contributing to enhanced operational effectiveness and security for all participants. By collaborating with cyber operators from seven NATO nations, the DND/CAF advanced its cyber defence strategies, showcasing the importance of integrating operational results into command structures for efficient future missions. This effort not only strengthened NATO's digital infrastructure but also provided a more resilient defence against cyberattacks.
Another major achievement was validating new secure network protocols and procedures. The modified security systems underwent rigorous testing with Sweden and Romania, successfully passing all test cases. This validation highlights our ability to secure communications within multinational coalitions, a critical component in protecting sensitive information and ensuring operational integrity.
The DND/CAF also demonstrated its capacity to operate effectively within a coalition environment. By sharing best practices and influencing future network specifications, it played a leading role in providing geospatial information services, offering essential map data and receiving services from partner nations. This leadership is vital for communication and information sharing in coalition operations, emphasizing our commitment to future mission success.
A key activity at CWIX 2024 involved verifying the interoperability of a modern AI-enabled data management system, ANVIL, which supported NATO’s targeting processes. The successful integration of this system with partner capabilities ensured it could consume and provide data across various standards, confirming its potential to support multi-domain operations effectively.
This year, the CAF extended work focused on space operations, integrating data from allies to provide critical products like ground traces and proximity alerts. This initiative met all expectations, demonstrating our expanding capabilities in space operations, an area increasingly vital for modern warfare.
The Canadian Joint Warfare Centre (CJWC) played a pivotal role in coordinating and supporting DND/CAF’s efforts at CWIX 2024. The CJWC's expertise in joint and coalition warfare ensured that our contributions were both strategic and impactful, reinforcing our leadership in multinational defence initiatives.
The DND/CAF’s achievements at CWIX 2024 reflect a commitment to enhancing cyber defence, network security, and coalition interoperability. These efforts are key to maintaining NATO's technological edge and ensuring collective security. By demonstrating capability and readiness to support joint operations, we foster a more secure and interconnected alliance.