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Work continues on multi-national Common Operating Picture at CE 08

U.S. Marines relay tracks on C2 systemsby U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Brian Hill, Combined Endeavor 2008 Public Affairs

The idea to have a single digital display of relevant operational information shared by many nations and organizations in real time is becoming closer to reality this year at Combined Endeavor.

Traditionally, when coalition partners wanted to share their operating pictures with each other, doing so required installing a separate system requiring additional training and having yet another screen to monitor in the operations center.

Through the ever-increasing capabilities provided by the Multilateral Interoperability Programme, timely and accurate information on the positions of friendly and enemy troops, and the positions and status of important infrastructure such as bridges and roads can be made available to commanders, said Tony Mansfield, command, control, communications and computers system engineer at the Marine Corps Tactical System Support Activity at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif.

"The aim is to achieve international interoperability of command and control information systems at all levels from corps to the lowest appropriate level, in order to support multinational, combined and joint operations and the advancement of digitisation in the international arena," he said.

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