The 17th NATO Forum on Computer Aided Analysis, Exercise, Experimentation, CA2X2 for short, sponsored by NATO's Strategic Transformation Command Norfolk and organized by the NATO Center of Excellence for modeling and simulation.
NATO CA2X2 is an innovative forum that brings together the world of university, industry and the Armed Forces around the theme of "Modeling and Simulation" (M&S), with interesting demonstrations and presentations on the latest technology trends. The theme of this latest edition was “NATO's Digital Transformation, Now And Beyond”.
The presence of 300 participants from the military, industrial and governmental world, 35 nations, 16 exhibitors, 76 working groups and 12 sponsors was considerable. Here are the numerous issues addressed: M&S support to the planning and conduct phase of military operations through specific applications, platforms and tools in favor of: education and training; operational readiness; experimentation; lessons learned and effects of the pandemic.
Among the specific topics addressed in the current edition, wargaming in digital mode, the retrain warfighting functions through live simulations, and decision support through the use of simulation systems and models that implement the COP (Common Operating Picture) of the commanders / decision makers from the tactical to the strategic level. In particular Unreal Engine actively contributes as main sponsor throughout the entire event.
The head of the Defense Innovation General Office Rear Admiral Gaetano Virgilio, representative of the host nation, opened the proceedings with a greeting address.
Guests included Brigadier General Didier Polome and Brigadier General Moschos Voudouris from NATO's Strategic Transformation Command Norfolk, Colonel Jan Mazal for the Czech Republic, Dr. Herbert Klopp-Schulze for Germany and Dr. Thomas C Irwin for the United States. Among the moderators, Agostino Bruzzone, professor of the University of Genoa and Sebastien Lozè, manager of Unreal Engine.
The director of the center Colonel Francesco Pacillo of the Italian Army said: “After the last two editions in virtual mode, finally this year we are back in attendance; this is the strong point of this Forum characterized by an international and inter-agency audience in the 'Modeling & Simulation' world.
On the occasion of the closing of the celebrations for the tenth anniversary of the establishment of our center of excellence, the CA2X2 Forum represents a necessary moment of encounter and innovation for the operational, scientific and industrial realities of the community of interest.
As a NATO accredited center of excellence, the focus is on supporting the Alliance and participating Nations, through expertise, tools, training and training. In recent days, new perspectives have opened with the various NATO actors and we have discussed effective solutions.
Among the various objectives of this edition, that of promoting the exchange of information and lessons learned between NATO commands and national training and simulation centers. The CAX Forum continues to play a fundamental role from this point of view ".
The next edition of the NATO CAX Forum will be held in the fall of 2023.
NATO M&S COE is dedicated to promoting M&S in support of operational requirements, training and interoperability. The center, located at the "Adriano De Cicco" barracks in Cecchignola headquarters of the 6th Defense Department, acts as a catalyst for transformation through the involvement of NATO, governments, universities, industry, operational and training entities, improving the networking of NATO and nationally owned M&S systems, cooperation between nations and organizations by sharing M&S information and developments, and serves as an international source of expertise for transformation in the relevant domain.
