U.S. Navy Fact Sheet

CEC - Cooperative Engagement Capability 

Description
Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC) a real-time sensor netting system that enables high quality situational awareness and integrated fire control capability. CEC is designed to enhance the Anti-Air Warfare (AAW) capability of ships and aircraft by the netting of battle force sensors to provide a single, distributed AAW defense capability. CEC enables Integrated Fire Control to counter increasingly capable cruise missiles and manned aircraft.

Features
CEC is a system of hardware and software that allows the sharing of radar and weapons systems data on air targets among U.S. Navy ships, U.S. Navy aircraft, and USMC Composite Tracking Network (CTN) Units. Sensor data from individual units is transmitted to other units in the group via a real time high quality, anti-jam capable line-of-sight, Data Distribution System (DDS). Each Cooperating Unit (CU) platform uses identical data processing algorithms resident in its Cooperative Engagement Processor (CEP), resulting in each having the same display of air track information. CEC gives an individual ship the ability to launch anti-air weapons at threat aircraft or missiles within its engagement envelope based on its own data relayed by another CU. The CEC system makes it possible for multiple surface ships and aircraft to form an air defense network by sharing radar target measurements in real-time.

CEC is composed of a network and data distribution system but interfaces with sensors and combat systems. CEC is composed of a Common Equipment Set (CES) that allows for shared components among the different CEC platform variants. The basic CEC equipment set consists of an antenna, a signal data processor, a backup battery, and technician control interfaces. The AN/USG-2 CEC system variant is designed for Navy surface ships and the AN/USG-3 CEC system variant is designed for Navy E-2 aircraft, and the AN/USG-4 CEC system variant is designed for the USMC CTN.

CTN is a USMC program that is mounted on a mobile USMC HMMWV that also incorporates a unique elevated CEC antenna. CTN integrates into the USMC Command and Control system to provide composite tracking and fire control data for the USMC, using the common USMC and Navy CEC integrated fire control system.