Military interoperability test begins

Combined Endeavor 2006, a two-week operation to test and document the interoperability of vital communication systems for multinational forces, began today in Lager Aulenbach, Germany.

The U.S. European Command, in cooperation with the German Ministry of Defense, is sponsoring the communications and information systems interoperability exercise. Forty-one countries, including members of NATO and Partnership for Peace, are participating.

Cisco Systems is providing the core network infrastructure for the exercise, which will test communications deployed in humanitarian, peacekeeping and disaster relief efforts. Cisco technicians will provide real-time videoconferencing, Web casting and the administrative local-area networks that will register and transport information and analyze results.

More than 1,000 tests beginning this week will focus mainly on the ability to pass data with a high level of security over an IP backbone, using voice over IP, private mobile radio, high-frequency and satellite communications.

Participating nations will also focus on information assurance, according to a news release.