CWIX 2025: armasuisse supports the interoperability and digitisation of the Swiss Armed Forces
From 2 to 20 June 2025, the Federal Office for Defence Procurement armasuisse together with the Swiss Armed Forces took part in the international CWIX interoperability exercise in Bydgoszcz, Poland. During the exercise, more than 3,000 participants from over 40 nations reviewed the interoperability of systems and digital services within multinational deployment. The Swiss delegation comprised more than 40 experts from the Armed Forces, armasuisse and industry.
Lucia Egger, specialist area Communication, Strategic Staff
CWIX (Coalition Warrior Interoperability eXploration, eXperimentation, eXamination, eXercise) is the most significant annual interoperability exercise carried out by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and serves as an environment in which to test the digital interoperability of armed forces. It is run by the Headquarters of Supreme Allied Command Transformation (HQ SACT) and has been approved by the North Atlantic Council (NAC) and NATO’s Military Committee. The aim is to validate the capabilities of the NATO and partner nations to work together in digital space, put new technologies to the test and promote the exchange of information and experiences between operational and technical stakeholders.
Focus on the new digitisation platform (NDP)
The main focus of this year’s exercise was on the integration and validation of the core and collaboration services of the local nodes of the Swiss Armed Forces’ new digitisation platform (NDP). Furthermore, a wide range of communities of interest (COI) were tested with regard to their functionality and conformity with the Federated Mission Networking (FMN). This is a key factor for “interoperability from day zero” within multinational deployment.
Tests carried out under realistic conditions allow vulnerabilities to be detected at an early stage and systematically rectified. They thus make an important contribution to the secure and robust digitisation of military command and communication systems.
International collaboration and an exchange of technical knowledge
CWIX provides the Swiss Armed Forces and armasuisse a valuable platform for entering into exchanges with international armed forces, industry partners and research institutions. Systematic tests and technical comparisons were carried out during the exercise in order to guarantee the interoperability of the various components.
armasuisse coordinated the planning and implementation of the test activities in close collaboration with Armed Forces Cyber Command, Joint Operations Command and industry partners such as RUAG.
Experimental systems and future technologies were also tested, in particular with a view to NATO initiatives such as the integration of cyber and outer space operations in a holistic operational picture – also known as multi-domain operations (MDO).
CWIX as an integral part of the armament strategy
armasuisse considers CWIX to be a central component in the strategy to modernise and digitise the Swiss Armed Forces. The knowledge gained here is incorporated directly into the further development of the new digitisation platform and improves interoperability with international partners.
The Swiss Armed Forces’ continued participation in CWIX allows it to align its systems with the development stages of the FMN spiral specifications. In this way, operational readiness and resilience is strengthened on a multinational basis. This is being done in accordance with the NATO 2030 initiative for a data-based and interoperable alliance that has the capability to act.