29 Jan 25. LM Supports Bilateral CJADC2 Integrated Fires Capability with Aegis at Keen Sword Exercise. Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) supported U.S. and Japan Self Defense Forces (JSDF) with coordinated, joint long-range fires across maritime and land units during exercise Keen Sword near mainland Japan. The results will help shape future combined joint all-domain command and control (CJADC2) capabilities and pave the way for continued multi-lateral participation in major exercises.
During this exercise, the Virtualized Aegis Weapon System (VAWS) successfully supported the 3rd Multi-Domain Task Force (MDTF) during a naval special warfare mission to strike a land target. Aegis showcased its flexibility and interoperability by providing and receiving digital fire coordination direction among land and maritime shooters. VAWS eliminated the need for manual operations by transmitting detailed fire control orders digitally, across existing military service databases to include Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System to coordinate simulated fires.
The exercise demonstrated the ability to reliably perform enhanced C2 integration across combined services, at all levels of operation and across multiple domains. U.S. and JSDF naval and ground forces coordinated C2 data from multiple disparate sources to simulate a long-range strike from a ground battery system.
Strategic Perspectives
“The Keen Sword Technology Observer Demonstration Program allowed Lockheed Martin to share with a senior delegation of military and civilian leaders from the U.S., Japan and Australia how our common, Joint C2 architecture can help achieve their vision for multi-lateral interoperability and integration across domains,” Erika Marshall, vice president C4ISR at Lockheed Martin. “These capabilities can be deployed with urgency and upgraded swiftly to meet the needs of the mission.”
“Utilizing VAWS in the exercise demonstrated the scalability of Aegis to support both land and sea-based operations,” said Chandra Marshall, vice president and general manager of Multi-Domain Combat Solutions at Lockheed Martin. “By transmitting fire control orders digitally and including the Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System, this further enables the CJADC2 vision and saves the user time when seconds matter.”
Dive Deeper
Keen Sword is a bilateral field training exercise conducted biennially since 1986, designed to increase combat readiness and interoperability of the JSDF and U.S. forces.
Aegis capabilities were deployed as an expeditionary form factor, which enables the weapon system capabilities to be employed beyond maritime infrastructures.
Demonstrating the capability of Aegis to support CJADC2 was highly relevant to this exercise because U.S., Japan, Korea and Australia all deploy Aegis as a core part of their defensive capabilities. (Source: ASD Network)
20 Jan 25. The Hesse Police Headquarters for Technology (Hessische Polizeipräsidium für Technik – HPT) has selected HOLOGATE, a leading provider of extended reality (XR) solutions, to deliver a modern virtual reality (VR) training system for law enforcement. The initiative aims to integrate police training content into virtual reality, enhancing current training with realistic virtual scenarios to optimise key skill development for officers.
Currently, police training in Hesse is conducted at operational training centres of the Hesse Police and the Hessian University of Applied Sciences for Public Management and Security. As part of the tender, HOLOGATE’s HGXR division will create a highly adaptable virtual training environment. The XR system allows for dynamic scalability, enabling training sessions to be customised to various space requirements. This flexibility enhances the efficiency of training.
Prof. Dr. Roman Poseck, Hessian Minister of the Interior, Safety and Homeland Security, and Prof. Dr. Kristina Sinemus, Hessian Minister for Digital Strategy and Innovation, officially opened the new facility, praising it as a milestone in modern training.
Flexibility down to the last detail: HGXR’s multi-user XR solutions seamlessly combine cutting-edge hardware with the intuitive HOLOFORCE Blue software, specifically designed to meet the unique demands of police training. A diverse array of virtual environments—ranging from urban landscapes to critical infrastructure and various types of buildings—ensures dynamic, immersive training experiences. Users can interact with each other, the environment, and NPCs (non-player characters) during training.
With the scenario editor, training situations can be customised to meet specific training requirements. Using simple drag-and-drop functionality, NPCs and objects like walls and doors can be easily positioned, while weather conditions and time of day can be adjusted for added realism. NPCs can be configured as friendly, hostile, or neutral, with their behaviour either predefined or controlled live during the session. This level of flexibility maximises the training’s effectiveness, making the exercises highly practical.
Leif Petersen, CEO and founder of HOLOGATE, highlights: “Our XR solution provides the Hesse police with a highly flexible system that enables realistic and diverse training scenarios. This allows law enforcement personnel to develop their skills optimally in a safe yet highly realistic setting.”
Prof. Dr. Roman Poseck said: “The new training units will improve individual skills and confidence in action. This milestone in modern training also contributes to increased safety for citizens.”
Seamless integration of command and operational resources: Realism is crucial for effective preparation. The XR system seamlessly integrates the command and operational equipment (Führungs- und Einsatzmittel – FEM) used by the Hesse police, whether utilising real weapons or highly accurate replicas. The appearance, handling, and functionality of the FEM are faithfully integrated into the training environment, allowing officers to train with familiar equipment in near-realistic conditions.
An integrated feedback system enhances immersion by delivering haptic feedback via electrical impulses when an officer is ‘hit’. Visual indicators within the scenario also show the precise location and status of the hit.
Spotlight on success. The After Action Review (AAR) offers a quick, semi-automated debrief of training scenarios. Every participant’s actions are meticulously recorded and documented anonymously in a visual database, giving trainers a powerful tool for comprehensive analysis. This allows for precise, targeted feedback, enabling corrections and tracking progress over time. The standardised exercise structure ensures consistent performance evaluation, fostering long-term skill development.
Long-term application potential: Beyond police training, the VR platform is set to play a role in evidence presentation, event reconstruction, and research. A proof of concept (POC) will validate the system’s compatibility with future upgrades, ensuring its sustainable, long-term use. This collaboration with the Hesse police represents another significant milestone in advancing the digitalisation and efficiency of law enforcement training. (Source: joint-forces.com)