U.S., coalition armies examine new ways to reduce friendly fire accidents

Even as we accept that war is cruel, it is difficult to imagine a more poignant aspect than death or serious injury as a result of friendly fire. The U.S. Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM) is teaming with its allies later this year to evaluate technologies in an advanced concept technology demonstration (ACTD) with the aim of reducing friendly fire incidents and enhance combat effectiveness. In September, coalition warfighters will test Coalition Combat Identification (CCID) technologies during an operational demonstration known as Bold Quest. USJFCOM’s John Miller, operational manager for the CCID ACTD, said U.S. priorities in the project are currently oriented on the combat identification issues involved with the engagement of ground targets by coalition aircraft. Miller said Bold Quest will also allow U.S. forces to team with international forces to demonstrate and assess other CCID technologies and how they work together. Technology News Daily reports that all of the services are involved in the demonstration, but because Air Force air to ground systems are the ACTD’s core, the Air Force is the project’s lead service.

Miller added that the “refined operational concept, a statement of the warfighters’ intended employment, can be a very useful reference for technology managers post-Bold Quest as they improve upon the prototype systems we’ll see demonstrated there.”

Bold Quest will be held at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Ft. Irwin National Training Center, California, on 7-19 September.