XML standards as the basis for data interoperability among military C2 systems and beyond

Today's battlefield requires agility in a matter of minutes, not hours or days, but there is a critical data sharing gap at the tactical edge. Implementation of the DOD Net-Centric Data Strategy through XML-based data standards is essential to fixing this problem and providing an environment where interoperable data is available to the war-fighter wherever and whenever needed. To address these challenges, we are developing a collection of data components that provide semantics understood by all, and rules for composing them as needed into data exchange specifications. This effort is known as the C2 Core. Possibly the first major user of the C2 Core is the Tactical Edge Data Solutions (TEDS) Joint Capability Technology Demonstration (JCTD). The TEDS JCTD was initiated to work with the Services to overcome documented gaps in data sharing, and create a Joint approach to delivering data for use in a leader centric, net enabled future.