As NATO convenes in The Hague amidst rising geopolitical instability and accelerating advancements in military technology, one principle is asserting itself with increasing urgency: interoperability. The recent Coalition Warrior Interoperability eXploration, eXperimentation and eXamination (CWIX) 2025 exercise underscored that interoperability is not a “nice to have” nor a long-term ambition, but a strategic necessity. At the heart of this challenge lies the seamless, real-time integration of Command and Control (C2) systems across a complex, multinational defence architecture.
The Complexity of NATO’s Digital Battlespace
NATO’s operational structure is vast, representing 32 member nations, each with its own military doctrines, legacy systems, and digital architectures. According to CWIX 2025 data, more than 3000 personnel convened at CWIX, testing more than 570 capabilities across all five operational domains and within 18 specialised functional areas (such as Modelling and Simulation, Logistics and Medical, and Friendly Force Tracking).
The diversity is staggering:
Infrastructure capabilities differ widely — some operate at the tactical edge with degraded connectivity, while others function within rich, centralised infrastructure.
- Nations use different C2 platforms (e.g., ICC, JADOCS, MIP, Delta, SitaWare).
- Communication protocols vary: HLA, DIS, OTH-T Gold, Link 16, CoT, TAK, C2SIM, VMF, and others.
- Infrastructure capabilities differ widely — some operate at the tactical edge with degraded connectivity, while others function within rich, centralised infrastructure
This heterogeneity creates not just a technical challenge, but a profound operational risk. Without interoperability, NATO forces risk fragmentation in the face of high-tempo conflict.
Standards That Bind (and Challenge)
To mitigate these risks, NATO promotes and integrates several critical communication and simulation standards:
- HLA (High Level Architecture): A foundational framework for connecting federated simulations in real time.
- DIS (Distributed Interactive Simulation): Used extensively for distributed military training and operational rehearsal.
- OTH-T Gold (Over-The-Horizon Track Gold): Standardised track message format for beyond-line-of-sight tactical data sharing.
- Link 16: A tactical data link used by NATO for real-time exchange of combat data across platforms and services.
- CoT (Cursor on Target): Lightweight, XML-based format for rapidly sharing tactical sensor and positional information.
- TAK (Tactical Assault Kit): An open framework for situational awareness on mobile and tactical platforms.
- C2SIM (Command and Control – Simulation Interoperation): Standard for direct exchange of orders and reports between C2 systems and simulations.
- MIP (Multilateral Interoperability Programme): Data exchange standards and specifications for multinational C2 interconnectivity.
These protocols form the backbone of interoperability efforts. However, each standard comes with national variations, legacy system constraints, and differing levels of maturity — making interoperability a process, not a state and the speed of achieving the interoperability is playing a critical role in the modern battlefield.
Ukraine’s Delta: A Blueprint for Modern C2
Ukraine’s Delta system stands as one of the most compelling examples of wartime innovation in modern command and control (C2). Originally initiated in 2019 by Ukraine’s Centre for Innovations and Defence Technologies, Delta was designed to unify scattered battlefield data into a centralised digital map. However, the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022 became a catalyst for rapid transformation. Under intense battlefield conditions, Delta evolved from a planning tool into a mission-critical, live-operational command platform — developed with direct input from officers, drone operators, artillery teams, and special forces. Within months, it matured into a cloud-native system that runs across devices, from laptops to smartphones, enabling tactical and strategic coordination across Ukraine’s military and civil defence forces.
What makes Delta extraordinary is its technical and operational resilience. Built on open architecture and NATO-compatible protocols like OTH-Gold and MIL-STD-2525, Delta integrates diverse data sources — from drone feeds and satellite imagery to battlefield intelligence — into a real-time, dynamic common operating picture. It operates effectively under low-bandwidth, high-threat conditions and includes cybersecurity features like cloud redundancy, encryption, and role-based access. Its impact has been transformative: Ukrainian forces have used Delta to shorten kill chains, synchronise dispersed units, and coordinate fire support with unprecedented speed. The system has also empowered civilian-military collaboration, allowing vetted volunteers and territorial defence teams to feed situational data directly into the national defence network.
Ukraine’s battlefield-hardened Delta system offers a glimpse into what agile, modular, and standards-aware C2 looks like in action. Designed during wartime, Delta successfully integrates:
- Open-source and sensor intelligence,
- Common situational awareness tools,
- NATO-compatible interfaces such as OTH Gold and MIL-STD-2525 symbology,
- And dynamic coalition coordination.
Hadean at CWIX 2025: Interoperability in Action
At CWIX 2025, Hadean had the opportunity to actively demonstrate and validate its interoperability capabilities in a realistic, multinational exercise. Collaborating with NATO and partner nations, Hadean integrated its platform with a variety of systems and protocols including HLA, DIS, OTH-T Gold, and CoT.
This real-world testing confirmed Hadean’s ability to:
- Federate live, virtual, and constructive systems into unified operational and training simulations,
- Exchange real-time data and orders across disparate C2 tools, and
- Enable coalition-scale decision-making and mission rehearsal — all under NATO-standard protocols.
Participation in CWIX validated Hadean’s readiness to contribute to NATO’s vision of a fully integrated digital backbone for joint and combined operations. CWIX 2025 delivered a key takeaway: the modern battlespace isn’t defined by one system, one nation, or one domain. It’s defined by interconnected ecosystems that are modular, interoperable, and built to adapt.
Conclusion
Interoperability is no longer an aspiration — it’s the linchpin of credible collective defence. As NATO looks to reinforce its strategic edge at The Hague Summit and beyond, success will hinge on how effectively its systems can speak, sense, and act together.
With proven platforms like Hadean, and blueprints like Ukraine’s Delta, the Alliance has both the tools and the examples it needs to ensure interoperability becomes not just a goal, but a guaranteed battlefield advantage.
