CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (AFNS) -- More than 4,000 service members and civilians from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Space Force, as well as members from United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, France and Japan, participated in Project Convergence Capstone Four at Camp Pendleton and Fort Irwin in February and March.
The Department of the Air Force's role in the Army-led experiment was to provide a multi-service synchronized air picture, enabling decision making up- and down- echelon and across the joint force with mission partners and allies.
“The Air Force is using several TOC-Ls, or Tactical Operations Center-Light, a mobile and tactical C2 battle management system, bringing hundreds of data feeds together to create an air picture,” said Brig. Gen. Luke Cropsey, Department of the Air Force Integrating Program Executive Officer for Command, Control, Communications and Battle Management. “This provides information across command-and-control nodes, ultimately allowing us to make decisions faster than the pacing challenge.”
Project Convergence is a continuous experiment with many exercises and experiments taking place throughout the year. The capstone will aid in developing new strategies and skills to advance modernization, concepts and integrated technologies.
“We’ve seen several successful firsts, specifically with integrated fires and cruise missile defense, showcasing how we can use TOC-L today while also leveraging lessons learned and improving our C2 processes for decision advantage,” said Brig. Gen. Daniel Clayton, Advanced Battle Management System Cross-Functional Team director. “These experiments allow us to continue honing our programs, while also demonstrating how valuable being ‘integrated by design’ can be with the other services and mission partners. Integrating from the beginning is key to successful capability development and modernizing command and control now.”
The joint experiment allows for continuous learning to inform future readiness and modernization activities and helps inform reliable network systems, data-driven decisions and joint warfighting concepts.
The capstone was the largest two-phase experiment to date, with enduring objectives and learning demands evolving from the Project Convergence campaign of persistent experimentation. The experiment aids senior leaders with decision-making for designing and delivering a future force while also strengthening joint and multinational partnerships.
The first Project Convergence capstone events started in 2020, and the most recent capstone took place in November 2022. Each capstone event works on transforming how future warfighters will operate in fast-paced, high-tech, multi-domain environments.
