Coalition Warfare

The Coalition Warfare Program (CWP), managed by the Office of the Secretary of Defense, is a Department of Defense (DoD) initiative under the Research, Development, Test & Evaluation (RDT&E), Defense-Wide appropriation. The primary objective of the CWP is to support DoD organizations in collaborating with foreign partners to address strategic technology gaps, develop interoperability solutions for coalition operations, and strengthen defense relationships.

The program is closely aligned with the Interim National Defense Strategic Guidance (INDSCG), which emphasizes deepening cooperation with allies and partners to address shared security threats and enhance collective defense capabilities. The CWP provides competitive funding to DoD components for cooperative research, development, test, and evaluation projects with international partners. These projects are selected annually based on DoD and Combatant Command priorities, with a focus on leveraging both U.S. and foreign partner resources to accelerate the development and delivery of technical solutions to the warfighter.

Since 2001, the CWP has invested in projects with numerous partners, leveraging foreign partner resources and other U.S. Government resources for every dollar of CWP funding. This approach advances technology and reduces the financial and manpower burden on the U.S. by sharing costs and expertise. The Coalition Warfare line item supports a diverse portfolio of projects, currently including dozens of active efforts governed by international agreements with many foreign partners.

These projects address a broad range of technology areas, such as artificial intelligence for undersea warfare, high-frequency over-the-horizon radar, autonomous navigation for unmanned surface vessels, cyber defense data exchange standards, wide area decontamination, advanced armor, and integrated threat awareness systems. Each project is designed to meet specific operational needs while promoting interoperability and mutual benefit among coalition partners.

Recent and ongoing projects include the development of artificial intelligence algorithms to enhance sonar operator performance, multi-modal autonomous navigation solutions for unmanned surface vessels, and the creation of prototype cyber defense message centers for selective information sharing with NATO partners. Other efforts focus on fielding advanced sensors for sniper threat detection, developing lightweight transparent armor, and prototyping high power microwave systems for electronic warfare.

Looking ahead to FY 2026, the CWP will continue to incrementally fund several collaborative RDT&E projects that align with OUSD(R&E) technology priority areas, including biotechnology, quantum science, advanced materials, trusted AI & autonomy, microelectronics, space technology, renewable energy, advanced computing, human-machine interfaces, directed energy, hypersonics, and integrated sensing & cyber. New projects selected for FY 2026 include efforts to unlock access to additional aircraft for coalition airdrop operations, develop uniform fabrics for fragmentation protection, and improve submarine electromagnetic signature prediction and control.

The CWP acquisition strategy involves an annual nomination process, where Combatant Commands, Services, Defense Agencies, and the Office of the Secretary of Defense propose candidate projects. Selected projects receive up to three years of funding and must demonstrate equitable contributions from international partners, strong transition potential, Combatant Command endorsement, and a clear contribution to allied interoperability or warfighter needs. This process ensures that CWP investments are strategically targeted and deliver tangible operational benefits.