Supporting Collective Training & Thinking in Joint Project Optic Windmill

In September 2008, the Missile Defence Group of the Royal Netherlands Air Force, together with the German Air Force and the US Missile Defence Agency, organised the 10th edition of Exercise Joint Project Optic Windmill (JPOW). Over the past decade JPOW has become a world leading Integrated Air and Missile Defence (IAMD) exercise, where next to collective training an important focus is on experimenting with novel air and missile defence concepts, new tactics, techniques and procedures, and testing future capabilities in a multinational live, virtual and constructive (LVC) environment. In 2008, over 1500 participants from seven nations joined JPOW X. In this paper we will describe how JPOW has evolved over the past decade. We will then describe in more detail how JPOWX was organised and conducted. We will present the organisational, operational and technical challenges that need to be addressed to successfully host (distributed) multi-national and multi-level training events and how to address additional challenges that arise when LVC assets come together in an exercise environment. Also, the unique JPOW concept of combining an exercise (collective training) with experimentation (both in terms of new concepts and capabilities) will be addressed. From an organisational point of view we will then present the key lessons learned, both from the experimental and the actual mission execution phase of the exercise. We will conclude this paper by describing how JPOW not only facilitates collective training but also supports the actual transformation on integrating air and missile defence and has led towards a comprehensive Dutch air and missile defence approach. In this approach simulation plays a central role. Also, the integration of an extensive body of research, and the establishment of a JAMD centre of excellence are seen as key factors for successfully implementing a comprehensive air and missile defence approach in the Netherlands.