Sharpening the Spear: Navy Experiment Advances Sensor-to-Shooter Connectivity

08 April 2026

From NIWC Atlantic Public Affairs

The seventh annual SoSNIE experiment united joint forces and engineers to test end-to-end mission threads and emerging technologies. By facilitating direct warfighter feedback on command-and-control prototypes, the event accelerates interoperability and digital architecture improvements, directly supporting the Navy’s strategic imperative for seamless, all-domain joint force integration.

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Military personnel and engineers collaborate in a field environment during the System of Systems Naval Integration Experiment (SoSNIE), operating communication equipment and digital systems under a camouflage net to test interoperability and command-and-control capabilities.

N. Charleston, SC (March 18, 2026) Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Atlantic hosted the Systems of Systems Naval Integration Experiment (SOSNIE) for its 7th year. The two-week experiment stress-tested more than 40 state-of-the-art communications technologies used for a variety of essential military capabilities and included the use of manned and unmanned autonomous systems on land, sea and in the air. More than 150 Sailors, Marines, soldiers, Department of Navy civilians, and industry partners participated in the experiment, which took place in both a field environment at NIWC Atlantic’s Small Autonomous Unmanned Systems Research (SAUSR) Range and off the shore of Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina. (U.S. Navy photo by Joe Bullinger/Released)

CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Atlantic recently completed a naval experiment designed to stress-test the interoperability of advanced land, sea and air communications capabilities.

System of Systems Naval Integration Experiment (SoSNIE) is an annual effort hosted by NIWC Atlantic as a proving ground for joint forces to run full, end-to-end mission threads with the goals of identifying opportunities for increased interoperability and ultimately strengthening the digital architecture.

Sailors, Marines, Soldiers, Department of Navy civilians, and industry partners participated in the experiment, which took place in both a field environment at NIWC Atlantic and off the shore of South Carolina.

Military personnel and civilians gather around a table inside a portable shelter to collaborate on digital systems and mission threads during the SoSNIE experiment.

With large distances separating the geographic locations, experimenters tested various capabilities, driving learning for future systems.

This iterative learning throughout the event was accelerated due to the shoulder-to-shoulder teaming between warfighters and engineers, providing the opportunity for direct user feedback on system improvements. As a primary example, Marines participated in the experiment as an opportunity to test a command-and-control prototype.

As a real-world test bed, the joint effort is aggressively getting after the Navy-wide imperative to improve joint force integration and all-domain C2, a primary priority in the Chief of Naval Operation’s Fighting Instructions released in February.

Another key benefit of joint experimentation is the unscripted nature of operations and the ability to test a spectrum of emerging technologies.

This year represents the seventh iteration of SoSNIE, as well as a significant shift in depth and breadth of the experiment’s scope and participation.

View more photos at DVIDS.