Cooperative Engagement Capability

Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC) is a critical initiative within the Navy's Other Procurement budget activity, specifically focusing on communications and electronics equipment for ship electronic systems. The primary goal of this program is to significantly enhance the Battle Force Anti-Air Warfare (AAW) capability by coordinating all AAW sensors into a single, real-time, composite track picture capable of fire control quality. This involves distributing sensor data from each ship and aircraft, or cooperating unit (CU), to all other CUs in the battle force through a real-time, high data rate sensor and engagement data distribution network. The CEC system aims to improve Battle Force defense in depth against current and future AAW threats and provide critical connectivity and integration of over-land air defense systems in complex littoral environments.

The objectives of Program 2606 include the procurement and installation of various hardware components such as Planar Array Antenna Assembly (PAAA) backfit kits, Signal Data Processor (SDP) backfits for different equipment configurations, and hardware conversion kits for the CEC system. Additionally, the program allocates funds for non-recurring depot costs, visual interactive simulated training application (VISTA) training, supply support, and signal data processor capability enhancements. These efforts are aimed at modernizing the CEC system to support future capabilities including CEC Enhanced Network, NIFC Passive, and integration of Office of Naval Research's Communications and Interoperability for Integrated Fires Mission-based Networking for DDS (MiND) and Communications as a Service (CaaS) FNC products.