NATO interoperability put to the test at major UK exercise

DORSET, UK - Systematic has demonstrated how military systems can securely exchange data across NATO forces during the Eastern Flank Deterrence Initiative (EFDI) 2.0, a major multinational defence exercise held in Dorset, UK. 

During the exercise, Systematic engineers built a bespoke gateway connecting its SitaWare command and control (C2) software to the EFDI Data Backbone. Developed on site in just a few days, the gateway enabled SitaWare to securely exchange data across systems through a shared coalition network. 

The EFDI Data Backbone provides a common digital architecture through which different military systems can share information regardless of the software or national system forces use. It is designed to help participating forces access and share relevant data while retaining control of their own system.  

The exercise, supported by the U.S Army Europe and Africa (USAREUR-AF), brought together more than 60 vendors to test how capabilities across sensing, decision-making, effects, networking and logistics could exchange information through the Backbone securely. Systematic participated in the Decide group, focusing on the connection between the shared data architecture and the C2 systems used to present information to military decision makers. 

By the end of the ten-day exercise, participating NATO allies had demonstrated the ability to integrate the majority of the data types available on the Backbone, and SitaWare's performance was recognised by both US and UK stakeholders during the exercise's Distinguished Visitor (DV) Day briefings.  

The EFDI Data Backbone uses technology stack known as Geo-Distributed Open Architecture Transformation (GOAT). Its longer-term aim is to enable NATO member nations to operate national instances of the Backbone while sharing relevant information across the coalition.  

This could allow, for example, data collected by a UK sensor in Estonia or a Canadian sensor in Lithuania to contribute to a shared operational picture. 

Systematic will continue to support national EFDI efforts as the programme expands toward higher classification environments and contested electromagnetic conditions in future iterations. 

Further opportunities to test the architecture are expected at exercises including Coalition Warrior Interoperability eXercise (CWIX) 27 and STEADFAST DEFENDER in Spring 2027. 

Notes to Editors: 

• The Eastern Flank Deterrence Initiative (EFDI) 2.0 took place in Dorset, UK, from 14 to 24 September 2026. 

About Systematic 

• Systematic has been part of the UK defence community for more than 30 years. 

• SitaWare is Systematic's operationally proven C5ISR software suite, providing command and control from headquarters to the tactical edge.  

• As an independent European defence technology company, Systematic enables armed forces to retain control of their operational data while sharing information and coordinating activity with trusted NATO allies. 

• SitaWare is used by more than 50 defence forces worldwide, and NATO selected it as its standard command-and-control system for land operations in 2024. 

For more information, please contact: 
Thomas Boorman | External Communications Manager | Thomas.boorman@systematic.com | +44 (0) 777 814 2346 

www.systematic.com/defence   |   LinkedIn: @Systematic-Defence