Annual Artillery Systems Cooperation Activities Training

GRAFENWOEHR, Germany – Approximately 3,000 participants from 19 countries came together during Dynamic Front 2022 (DF22), the premier U.S.-led, NATO Partner-integrated artillery exercise in the European theater, to create a stronger NATO Partner and Ally fire enterprise through the Artillery Systems Cooperation Activities (ASCA) program.

ASCA is a software program that creates one consistent line of communication digitally, in real-time linking artillery commands and control systems. With the linking of systems to one interface, the program nullifies language barriers and speeds up signals rather than utilizing radios.

U.S. Army Capt. Karl Kunkleman, a field artillery officer assigned to the Joint Multinational Readiness Center (JMRC), echoes the magnitude of adding to the ASCA group. “There are 13 countries currently, 12 different systems, and having those 12 systems communicate properly is a testament to the commitment of the NATO force and the unified cause we’re all trying to achieve.”

The number of active participants continues to grow, as countries have expressed interest in joining the ASCA group. Countries are broken into three; full members (13), sponsored members (8) and interested members (4). Depending on the status of a country's integration, it dictates its participation in the multinational exercise.

U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Joshua McCarthy, a senior observer coach trainer (OCT) at JMRC, describes this exercise as, “a protocol inside the fire support systems that connect multiple countries to one another.” Thus allowing for controlled access throughout NATO Allies' operations systems, unifying and strengthening the combined force.

The focus of DF22 rests on firing systems interoperability designed to increase readiness and lethality among participants across the human, procedural and technological domains.

British Army Warrant Officer Class Two Wayne Billman discusses the strategic importance of having a unified network of communication that connects all NATO Partners participating in DF22.

“It has a massive effect. It simplifies how we can operate in peaceful operations and wartime operations,” Wayne explained. “We can deploy together, turn on our systems, connect on the same network, and then be able to communicate without having to use a different nation's software.”

U.S., NATO and multinational units are working together to display these capabilities in multi-echelon fires, while testing interoperability of both tactical and theater-level fire systems in a live environment.

When asked what is most enjoyable about the ongoing experience, McCarthy sums up the group’s sentiments: “Everything we know as field artillery, across all countries, is brought to the table in one room and it’s just a wealth of knowledge and information being shared. I think that makes the experience something special.”