1 The NIAG - “Supporting Alliance Capability Development and Enhancing Interoperability” AFCEA Europe – June 2010 “Interoperability Revisited” “NATO Industrial Advisory Group (NIAG) and its Role in Interoperability” Frans Picavet

2 What is the NIAG ? A high-level consultative and advisory body of senior industrialists of NATO member countries, acting under the NATO Conference of National Armaments Directors, with the aims of: –providing a forum for the exchange of views on industrial, technical, economic, management and other relevant aspects of research, development and production of armaments equipments within the Alliance; –providing industry’s advice on how to foster government-to- industry and industry-to-industry armaments co-operation within the Alliance; –providing assistance in exploring opportunities for international collaboration.

3 What NIAG offers “High level consultancy advice” - –Trans-Atlantic Defence Industrial Cooperation –The contribution of Industry to Capability Development in NATO –Government-Industry Partnerships – Industrial support beyond traditional boundaries –The Industrial Contribution to Achieving Interoperability Technology advice - –Pre-feasibility studies of TECHNOLOGIES –Technology Solutions for INTEROPERABILITY –Questions addressed by studies: –What do future technologies offer ? –What is the current state-of-the art ? –What is practical, achievable, cost effective ? –How can we make systems interoperable ?

4 NIAG Technical Studies Contributions to NATO Interoperability C3 and ISR Software Defined Radio – achieving interoperability. Data Links –Alternative Tactical Data Links. –UAV Data links for high intensity operations. ISR –NATO ISR Interoperability architecture. –Use of digital video broadcast for ISR data links. Networks –NEC infrastructures for dissemination of ISR data to field commanders. –New technologies for network based still imagery access and exchange services.

5 NIAG Technical Studies Contributions to NATO Interoperability Land Systems Soldier Systems - communications interoperability Urban warfare : – Surveillance & Reconnaissance Data Fusion - Monitoring and Tracking for Situation Awareness in Urban Areas Ground Based Air Defence Systems - integration and interoperability Artillery : –Reducing collatoral damage from artillery projectiles –Replacing cluster ammunition for area offence Military Vehicles - auxiliary power systems requirements

6 NIAG Technical Studies Contributions to NATO Interoperability Air Systems Precision Airdrop Systems - integration in operations. NATO Universal Armaments Interface – weapons to weapons carriers – Aircraft and UAV. Interchangeability –Aircraft and UAV self protection systems – flares and chaff rockets. Precision Approach and Landing – the future NATO standard. Protecting against Directed Energy.

7 NIAG Technical Studies Contributions to NATO Interoperability Maritime Systems Maritime Air Operations: - Working with Automatic Identification Systems’ - Interoperability and deployment of Maritime Patrol Aircraft. Future Naval Fire Support; –“Smart” projectiles, –Interchangable155 calibre shells Ship Design: –An architecture standrd for virtual ship design, –Potential for interoperable Modular Mission Packages

8 The NIAG Perspective Interoperability in the NATO context stretches over a broad canvass. Achieving interoperability requires many contributors, including defence industries. Basic principles: –Generate interface solutions for integration of systems nations’ currently own This also allows Industry to offer short term solutions without excessive constraints – Think commercial and open standards/ architectures where possible

9 The Industrial Challenge Choosing the Business Model. –For Industry, proprietary solutions, at first sight, offer more contract control …and money. But – –Business comes from meeting the customer needs, and –Less costly solutions based on commercial and/or open standards which offer interoperability can have competitive advantage.

10 The Intentions ….  For the Alliance:  Enhanced Military Capability and Interoperability as a result of Industrial interaction.  For Defence Industries:  Industrial interaction in providing Military Capability and Interoperability.