Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC)

The Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC) program, funded under Program Element (PE) 0607658N, is a Navy-led initiative focused on enhancing the integration and effectiveness of naval and joint force sensor and weapon systems. The primary objective of the CEC is to improve Battle Force Anti-Air Warfare (AAW) by creating a real-time, composite track picture from multiple sensors across ships, aircraft, and Marine Corps units. This integrated sensor network enables coordinated, high-quality fire control and significantly increases the Navy's ability to defend against advanced air and missile threats.

COOP Engagement is the foundational line item supporting the research, development, integration, and testing of the CEC system. Its goals include maintaining and advancing the core CEC architecture, which consists of the Data Distribution System (DDS) and Cooperative Engagement Processor (CEP). These components ensure that sensor and engagement data are securely and efficiently shared among all cooperating units, providing a unified and accurate track picture for combat systems. The program emphasizes resilience against electronic warfare and cyber threats, open architecture compliance, and ongoing system improvements through agile software development, rigorous testing, and certification processes.

CEC Increment II represents the next phase of CEC development, as described in the CEC Increment 2 Capability Development Document (CDD). This increment expands CEC's capabilities by extending kill chains, enabling Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) communications, increasing network capacity, and integrating new sensor types such as surface search radars and passive detection systems. Increment II also supports joint and force-level composite track management, and extends CEC's applicability into additional warfare domains, including Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD), Surface Warfare, and Electronic Warfare. Major objectives include the development of advanced software, cryptographic modernization, and hardware upgrades to support higher data rates and greater resiliency.

Within CEC Increment II, several focused efforts are underway. The NIFC Hypersonic project aims to enhance CEC's ability to track and engage hypersonic threats by expanding the system's speed, acceleration, and altitude tracking attributes. Crypto Modernization is developing a new Programmable Cryptographic Module to meet Cryptographic Modernization 2 (CM2) requirements, ensuring secure and resilient communications across the CEC network. NIFC Passive integrates electronic warfare data into the CEC track picture, leveraging adaptive interfaces and advanced algorithms to improve threat identification and combat system recommendations. The FIRECAPE initiative incorporates Patterns of Life' algorithms to detect anomalies and automate threat evaluation across the force.

CEC System Hardware Modernization and Hardware & Software Integration are critical objectives for FY 2026 and beyond. These efforts focus on developing and integrating new antenna waveforms, communications technologies, and signal data processor upgrades to support the expanded requirements of Increment II and future increments. The transition from legacy antenna development to modernized hardware is intended to increase data throughput, reduce size and power requirements, and maintain interoperability with evolving combat systems.

Navigation Systems was added to PE 0607658N in FY 2026 as part of a broader DoD program element consolidation. This line supports the research, development, and integration of the Inertial Navigation System (INS) AN/WSN-12 and Submarine Speed Sensors for all Navy ships and submarines. The INS provides critical position and attitude data to shipboard sensors and combat systems, serving as the primary navigation source in the absence of GPS. Objectives for this line include continued system design, engineering, and testing to support pre-production, low-rate initial production, and full-rate production of the AN/WSN-12, as well as research and integration of new submarine speed sensors to enhance operational effectiveness and survivability.

Across all line items, the CEC program emphasizes robust cybersecurity, program protection, and continuous field support to ensure system integrity and operational readiness. The program is managed by the CEC Program Office, with major contracts awarded to industry and research partners for hardware and software development, testing, and sustainment.