Coalition Warfare

The Coalition Warfare Program (CWP) is an initiative under the Office of the Secretary of Defense designed to foster international defense collaboration. Its primary objectives include addressing strategic technology gaps, developing interoperability solutions for coalition operations, and strengthening defense relationships with foreign partners. The program aligns with the 2022 National Security and Defense Strategies, emphasizing engagement with allies to address shared threats and deepen cooperation.

CWP supports various Department of Defense organizations by providing resources for cooperative research, development, testing, and evaluation projects. These projects are selected through a competitive process based on their potential to meet DoD priorities and enhance allied interoperability. The program ensures that U.S. contributions are sufficient to complete these collaborative efforts by leveraging support from international partners, thus accelerating the development of technical solutions for military use.

Since 2001, the program has successfully engaged with 81 partners, leveraging significant foreign resources alongside U.S. investments. CWP projects cover a wide range of technological areas, including advanced materials, artificial intelligence, space technology, and cyber defense. By transitioning technologies to operational use or further development, these projects not only meet immediate military needs but also lay the groundwork for future international collaborations.

In fiscal year 2025, CWP plans to support 8-12 new collaborative projects that align with current national security strategies and technological priorities. Despite a slight reduction in resources compared to previous years, the program continues to focus on enhancing coalition warfighter capabilities through innovative research and development initiatives. This ongoing commitment underscores the importance of international partnerships in achieving long-term defense objectives.