The Joint US-Japan military exercise, known as Exercise Keen Sword, has showcased significant advancements in Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control capabilities, demonstrating heightened interoperability between US and Japanese forces.
Conducted near mainland Japan, the exercise is part of the biennial Keen Sword operations, which have been enhancing combat readiness and cooperation since 1986. During this year's exercise, the Virtualized Aegis Weapon System (VAWS) played a pivotal role, supporting the US Army's 3rd Multi-Domain Task Force in naval special warfare missions targeting land objectives.
One of the key highlights of the Keen Sword exercise was the seamless integration of the VAWS, which successfully transmitted digital fire coordination orders among land and maritime forces. This capability eliminates the need for manual operations, thereby ensuring precision and operational efficiency when time is of the essence.
Erika Marshall, Vice President of C4ISR at Lockheed Martin, emphasized the significance of the Keen Sword Technology Observer Demonstration Program. She stated, “This program allowed us to demonstrate to senior military and civilian leaders from the US, Japan, and Australia how our common joint C2 architecture can help achieve their vision for multilateral interoperability and integration across domains. These capabilities can be deployed with urgency and upgraded swiftly to meet mission needs.”
Chandra Marshall, Vice President and General Manager of Multi-Domain Combat Solutions at Lockheed Martin, elaborated on the scalability of the Aegis system. “Utilizing VAWS during the exercise demonstrated the ability of Aegis to support both land and sea-based operations. By transmitting fire control orders digitally and integrating with the Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System, this enables the CJADC2 vision and ensures rapid response,” she noted.
The exercise not only allowed US and Japanese forces to coordinate long-range strikes across maritime and land units, but it also highlighted the capability to reliably integrate command and control (C2) data from multiple sources. This operational synergy enhances the ability to simulate potential long-range strikes, thereby improving readiness against potential threats.
Exercise Keen Sword serves as more than just a routine drill; it lays the groundwork for future military exercises involving increased multilateral participation among allied forces, particularly as global threats evolve. The capability to combine efforts effectively among the United States, Japan, South Korea, and Australia hinges on foundational exercises like these.
The deployment of Aegis capabilities during the exercise reflects its versatility beyond traditional maritime infrastructures, reinforcing the idea of extensive integration across different services. The exercise provides valuable insights for future developments of the Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control (CJADC2) capabilities, which will be increasingly necessary as geopolitical landscapes shift.
Strengthening regional security partnerships through exercises like Keen Sword ensures seamless interoperability and preparedness for US and allied forces facing contemporary challenges. The success of the exercise marks another step forward for allies committed to maintaining stability and readiness amid growing global uncertainties.