HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. -- The seamless integration of technologies between the U.S. and its allies is paramount to prevail in or deter the next major conflict.
To further that interoperability, delegates from the Japan Air Self-Defense Force met with leaders in the Department of the Air Force’s Program Executive Office for Command, Control, Communications and Battle Management to learn about DAF BATTLE NETWORK capabilities, here, Sept. 29, 2025.
The delegates received in-depth briefs from C3BM’s Aerial Networks Division and Kessel Run. Division leaders explained key DBN programs to help the Japanese partners understand where further integration is possible.
“It is our duty to meet with people and have discussions on site so we can understand what the objectives are, what the milestones are, and report back to our leadership to further mature our programs,” said Maj. Nichinari Yamashita, a JASDF action officer, through a translator.
Aerial Networks Division deputy Vince Ross briefed with a focus on future interoperability and Joint Force decision advantage. The division is responsible for delivering, sustaining, and supporting combat-effective, multi-domain communication capabilities integrated into various Air Force weapon systems.
“Visits like these are crucial to understanding our partners’ requirements and how they intend to interoperate with us,” Ross said. “Because the nature of what we do is so complicated, we have face-to-face meetings to talk through and get to the real nuanced details of their questions.”
Similarly, Kessel Run senior materiel leader Col. Richard Lopez briefed the delegates on KR capabilities they deliver and how they handle software acquisition and development. KR delivers resilient command and control and targeting software capabilities that provide warfighters with decision advantage. It architects and acquires the means to connect weapon systems with warfighters and decision makers to enable the Joint Force to win.
“The visit to Kessel Run was very beneficial because right now we do not have any sort of facility like this,” said Lt. Col. Toshifumi Sunaga, a JASDF air staff officer, through a translator. “It was fruitful to hear how their organization has changed over the last several years, and what kind of capabilities they deliver.”
The U.S.-Japan Alliance is the cornerstone of peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region. The visit served to enhance modernization efforts in interoperability and strengthen combined capabilities.
“Whenever we do things in the Indo-Pacific region, we have to do them in concert with our partners there, and that’s why it’s so important that we meet with them,” Ross said. “Any threat in the region isn’t going to just require a response from us, but from all of our partners in the region.”
The JASDF is responsible for air and space operations within the Japanese Self-Defense Force. The visit was organized by C3BM’s Aerial Networks International Branch Tokyo Office, which supports networking interoperability between Japan and the U.S. through the Foreign Military Sales program.
C3BM is responsible for designing and delivering the DAF BATTLE NETWORK. The DAF BATTLE NETWORK is the integrated system of systems connecting sensor, effector, and logistics systems providing better situational awareness, faster decisions, and decisive direction. In short, resilient decision advantage to the Joint Force.