Nato Policy for Standardization

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24 July 2000 DOCUMENTC-M(2000)54

Silence Procedure Ends:17h30 on 21 August 2000

NATO COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION

NATO POLICY FOR STANDARDIZATION

Note by the Secretary General

1. I enclose the agreed NATO Policy for Standardization by the NATO Committee forStandardization for Council approval.

2. This Policy was finalized after the Review of the NATO Standardization Process,which was earlier endorsed by the Council 1. It provides an overall framework for theconduct of standardization activities in the Alliance.

RECOMMENDATION

3. Permanent Representatives are invited to approve the NATO Policy forStandardization.

4. Unless I hear to the contrary by 17h30 on Monday, 21 August 2000, I shallassume that the Council has taken this action.

(Signed) George Robertson

1 AnnexOriginal: English

5 Appendices

1 C-M(2000)31, dated 24 May 2000 and Action Sheet


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NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL

NATO COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION

NATO POLICY

FOR

STANDARDIZATION


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CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION 1-3

POLICY STATEMENT 1-3

AIM OF NATO STANDARDIZATION 1-3

PRINCIPLES OF NATO STANDARDIZATION 1-4

THE NATO STANDARDIZATION PROCESS 1-5

RESPONSIBILITIES 1-5

Appendix 1 Development and implementation of NATO Standards 1-7Appendix 2 The NATO Standardization Programme 1-9Appendix 3 The NATO Standardization Organization (NSO) 1-11

Appendix 4 CivilStandards 1-13Appendix 5 Definitions 1-14


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INTRODUCTION

1. The 1999 Alliance Strategic Concept defines NATOs role in Euro-Atlantic securityand provides a strategic framework for Alliance military planners. It reaffirms thedetermination to strengthen Alliance defence capabilities and enhance the ability toaccomplish effectively the full spectrum of NATO missions. This requires particularattention to the challenges of interoperability.

2. Interoperability - the ability of Alliance Forces and whenappropriate, forces ofPartner and other nations, to train, exercise and operate effectively together in the

execution of assigned missions and tasks - must be improved in order to ensure theeffectiveness of multinational operations.

3. NATO Standardization is defined as The development and implementation ofconcepts, doctrines, procedures, and designs to achieve and maintain the required levelsof compatibility, interchangeability or commonality in the operational, procedural, materiel,technical and administrative fields to attain interoperability.

4. NATO Standardization is a key element and principal means for Nations, StrategicCommands and Principal NATO Committees to achieve the required interoperability.NATO Standardization contributes as a force multiplier to enhance interoperability.

POLICY STATEMENT

5. In order to strengthen the Alliance defence capabilities, it is Alliance policy thatNations and NATO Authorities will enhance interoperability inter alia throughstandardization. NATO Nations will develop, agree and implement standardizationagreements to achieve and maintain compatibility, interchangeability or commonality ofconcepts, doctrines, procedures and designs. These agreements, once ratified, will bepromulgated in appropriate NATO Standardization Agreements (STANAGs) and AlliedPublications (APs). Nations having accepted the agreements,will implement them in themost expeditious manner in response to operational needs.

6. The NATO Policy for Standardization is approved by the North Atlantic Council. TheNATO Committee for Standardization (NCS) is its custodian.

AIM OF NATO STANDARDIZATION

7. The aim of NATO Standardization is to enhance the Alliance's operationaleffectiveness through the attainment of interoperability among Alliance forces, andadditionally between NATO forces and forces of Partners and other nations, thusimproving efficiency in the use of available resources.


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10. Bottom-up standardization is initiated by reporting standardization needs and/ordeficiencies. This is followed by Standardization Proposals, formulated byNATO WorkingGroups, which are validated by the appropriate Tasking Authority (TA)2 to confirm therequirement before the development of a STANAG starts.

11. Top-down standardization is initiated when the Strategic Commands (SCs) identifyMilitary Standardization Requirements as part of Force Proposals for nations participatingin the Force Planning Process. It requires a clear formulation of these requirements andthe allocation of priority scores based on the Bi-SCs agreed Basic Priority List. TheseMilitary Standardization Requirements, together with other requirements forstandardization from NATO nations and from Tasking Authorities, constitute AllianceStandardization Requirements. Top-down standardization comprises 4 phases:

11.1 Phase 1: Identification, formulation and approval of StandardizationRequirements .

11.2 Phase 2: Identification, formulation and agreement of StandardizationObjectives based on these requirements.

11.3 Phase 3: Execution of tasks by the TAs, resulting from the approvedStandardization Objectives.

11.4 Phase 4: Implementation of top-down Standardizationand feedback.

12. Top-down Alliance Standardization Requirements, complemented by appropriatebottom-up Standardization Proposals, lead to the development and implementation of theNATO Standardization Programme (NSP). The NSP is the Alliances management tool forstandardization activities.

RESPONSIBILITIES

13. Nations and the NATO Military Authorities have theresponsibility for identifyingstandardization requirements, indicating the required levels of standardization, andrecommending priorities.

13.1. The Strategic Commands are responsible for identifying Military StandardizationRequirements in Force Proposals for nations participating in Force Planning, and forindicating their priority scores and the required levels of standardization. They are alsoresponsible for initial formulation of standardization requirements in draftPartnershipGoals in close coordination with NATO HQ staff.

2 Senior NATO Body who has the authority to task their subordinate groups to produce STANAGs and

APs.


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13.2. Nations are responsible for the ratification and implementation of NATO Standardsand for identifying additional requirements for standardization as necessary.

13.3. The Military Committee (MC), the Conference of National Armaments Directors(CNAD), the NATO Consultation, Command and Control Board (NC3B) and the SeniorNATO Logisticians Conference (SNLC) are responsible for the development and updatingof NATO Standards, in their capacity as Tasking Authorities. They are also responsible foridentifying significant Standardization Proposals for inclusion into the NATOStandardization Programme as well as for the implementation of tasks resulting from thatProgramme.The MC is responsible foroperationalstandardization.

13.4 The NATO Standardization Organization will consist of the following dedicated

functional elements: NATO Committee for Standardization (NCS), Group of NCSRepresentatives (NCSREPs), NATO Standardization Staff Group (NSSG), NATOStandardization Agency (NSA) and Tasking Authorities Working Groups.

13.5 The NATO Standardization Organization is responsible for the harmonization andcoordination of Alliance standardization efforts and for the provision of support forstandardization activities.


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DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF NATO STANDARDS

1. The development of NATO Standards is the direct responsibility of TaskingAuthorities, as defined in AAP-3. This responsibility includes the management andupdating of all existing STANAGs and APs; the identification, formulation and agreementof new standards and recording of national ratification details. Promulgation of agreedNATO Standards is a Director NSA responsibility.

2. Identification of NATO Standards - The STANAG development process startswith the identification of the need for a new standard, either through a Task resulting froma Standardization Objective in the NATO Standardization Programme(Top-down), or from

a Standardization Proposal (Bottom-up)which is submitted to the appropriate TA by NATObodies and/or individual nations.

3. Formulation of NATO Standards- Formulating or updating of NATO Standards isinternational in character; hence these actions must be coordinated internationally byrelevant NATO Bodies. Formulation of NATO standards can best be accomplished bymultinational expert Bodies. In order to achievean appropriate and affordable level ofstandardization, nations should indicate in advance their intentions to participate in thedevelopment and implementation of new NATO Standards, before STANAG developmentis initiated.

4. Ratification of NATO Standards. The TAs approve the ratification draft forcirculation to nations and request details of the ratification, such as intended date ofimplementation and the effective date of implementation. Some proposed NATO standardsmay not be relevant to all Alliance nations. Therefore nations have the option of notparticipating in the development and ratification of a standard.

5. Promulgation of NATO Standards. A STANAG will normally be forwarded forpromulgation when at least the majority of participating nations have ratified. Exceptionallyfor key doctrine documents and for urgent operational requirements the consensus rulewill apply. When the TA decides that promulgation criteria have been achieved, theSTANAG is forwarded to the Director NSA for promulgation.

6. Urgent Standardization Requirements - To meet urgent operational requirementsspecified by the NATO Military Authorities related STANAGs will be developed under anaccelerated procedure as appropriate.

7. Consensus. For STANAGs developed under an accelerated procedure, to meetan urgent operational requirement, and for key Allied Publications directly related to MCPolicy documents, consensus is essential.


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8. Implementation of NATO Standards - Implementation of promulgated NATOStandards is a national responsibility. Nations shall implement NATO standardsaccordingly.

9. Verification/Review of STANAGs - The verification of a STANAGs applicabilitymay be carried out in Crisis Response Operations,exercises and other operations. Theverification will confirm the relevance of a STANAG which will be evaluated on the basis ofa verification planto be agreed by Nations. The information gained using this verificationplan may result in either changes to STANAGs or their cancellation. STANAGs are to bereviewed at least once every three years to determine their validity.


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THE NATO STANDARDIZATION PROGRAMME (NSP)

1. Top-down Alliance Standardization Requirements, complemented by appropriatebottom-up Standardization Proposals, constitute the basis for the development of theNSP. Its purposeis to provide a measurable response to Alliance standardization needsinthe form of a dynamic, executive-level management tool, recognized throughout NATO, toassist the coordination and direction of standardization activity conducted in accordancewith the NATO Policy for Standardization.

2. The NSP is produced in the form of an electronic database. This facilitates itsmaintenance, update and issue of reports. It contains sufficient detail to enable Tasking

Authorities to task subordinate groups, and for Nations and Senior NATO Committees tomonitor progress.

3. The development and maintenance of the NATO Standardization Programme isdivided into 3 steps:

3.1 Step 1: Identification, formulation and approval of Alliance StandardizationRequirements;

3.2 Step 2: Development of Standardization Objectives, based on theserequirements and on validated Standardization Proposals;

3.3 Step 3: Feedback from TAs on the implementation and execution of tasksincluded in the NSP.

STEP 1 - IDENTIFICATION OF STANDARDIZATION REQUIREMENTS

4. This step is initiated by the Strategic Commands (SCs), through the formulation ofdetailed Military Standardization Requirements (MSRs) as part of Force Proposals withactive participation of the NATO HQ staffs involved in standardization. Approved MSRs3

together with possible other requirements for standardization from NATO Nations,especially from Nations not participating in Force Planning and from Principal NATO

Committees then constitute Alliance Standardization Requirements (ASRs).

5. Recognizing the inter-relationship between NATO and Partner Nations, theharmonization of related standardization requirements needs to be established.As in thedevelopment of MSRs in NATO Force Planning, a similar mechanism should be developedfor Partnership Goals.

3 At this stage the NSA, if required and in full cooperation with the SCs, will add details to the MSRs

for the further development into Standardization Objectives.


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STEP 2 - DEVELOPMENT OF STANDARDIZATION OBJECTIVES

6. The second step starts with the selection by nations in the NCS of agreed ASRs forfurtherdevelopment. The NATO Standardization Staff Group (NSSG) identifiesthe tasksto achieve the requirements. The ASRs with enumerated tasks, also from StandardizationProposals, are Standardization Objectives (SOs).

7. The Standardization Objectives are reviewed by the appropriate Tasking Authoritysubordinate structure to update the SO information as required and to evaluate thetechnical feasibility, affordability and timelines of the Standardization Objectives. After a

staff review and harmonization by the NATO Committee for Standardization they areapproved by the appropriate TA in the Spring of the odd years and submitted to the NCSfor overall endorsement. The Strategic Commands are kept informed. The NCScoordinates the NSP implementation and reports to the Council.

STEP 3 - FEEDBACK ON THE IMPLEMENTATION AND EXECUTION OF TASKSINCLUDED IN THE NSP

8. The Tasking Authorities are responsible for implementing SOs and executingStandardization Tasks derived from SOs within their area of responsibility. They willprovide the necessary direction to their subordinate structure thereby taking into account

the priorities provided by the Strategic Commandsandby the NCSREPs. "Feedback" willbe provided by regular update of the NSP.

9. Implementation of agreed NATO Standards resulting from the tasks included in theNSP is a national responsibility. The NATO Standardization Agency monitors this.


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THE NATO STANDARDIZATION ORGANIZATION (NSO)

1. NSO Mission:

"The Mission of the NATO Standardization Organization is to enhance interoperability andto contribute to the ability of Alliance Forces to train, exercise and operate effectivelytogether, and when appropriate, with forces of Partners and other nations, in the executionof assigned missions and tasks, through the harmonization and coordination of AllianceStandardization efforts".

2. NSO Objectives:

2.1 to be the Alliance authority on standardization matters;

2.2 to develop and maintainthe NATO Policy for Standardization;

2.3 to identify and address priority areas for standardization;

2.4 to contribute to the formulation of standardization requirements in NATO ForcePlanning;

2.5 to develop and manage the NATO Standardization Programme;

2.6 to be the focus of Alliance standardization efforts;

2.7 to coordinate and monitor the production and maintenance of operational,procedural, materiel, technical and administrative standards;

2.8 to monitor the implementation of NATO Standards;

2.9 to promote the adoption of relevant civil and commercial standards within NATOand cooperation with civil and commercial standards organizations;

2.10 to contribute to the development of Partnership Goals in the Partnership for PeacePlanning and Review Process (PARP) and to promote collaboration on standardizationmatters with Partners and international organizations;

2.11 to provide a forum for the expression of national positions on standardizationmatters.


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3. NATO Standardization Organization:

3.1 NATO Committee for Standardization (NCS) Senior NATO Committee,reporting to the Council, with full authority and management responsibility for AllianceStandardization coordination on policy and decision taking. The NCS is assisted by theGroup of NCSrepresentatives with delegated authority (NCSREPs)to achieve its mission.The NCSREPs will address the NSO Objectives, promote the interaction between nationalorganizations and NATO and prepare NCS decisions or act on its behalf. The NCS is theBoard of Directors for the NATO Standardization Agency (NSA).

3.2 NATO Standardization Staff Group (NSSG) Staff group subordinate to the NCS,

responsible for staff liaison, for the staffingof projects assigned to the NSA by the NCSand for preparation of documentation, contributing, inter alia, to the formulation of MilitaryStandardization Requirements by the Strategic Commands and drafting of StandardizationObjectives. The NSSG will be supported by NSSG Working Groups to undertake specificstandardization tasks.

3.3 Tasking Authorities Working Groups (WGs) Working Groups responsible forproducing and maintaining the standards as directed by their parent TA.

3.4 NATO Standardization Agency (NSA) - A single, integrated body, composed ofmilitary and civilian staff, subordinate to the Council through the NCS, with the authority to

coordinate issues between all fields of standardization. The Joint and Single ServiceBoards, supported by the NSA, will each act as aTasking Authority, delegated by theMilitary Committee, for Operational Standardization, including doctrine4. The NSA will setout procedures, planning and execution functions related to standardization for applicationthroughout the Alliance. It is responsible for the preparation of the work for the NCS,NCSREPs and NSSG meetings and will ensure, with its experts in the different fields,centralized coordination, liaison with, and if required, support for Tasking AuthoritiesWorking Groups which develop standards.

4 In accordance with MC Guidance on the relationship between NATO Policy and Military Doctrine

(MCM 077 00, dated 17 May 2000).


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DEFINITIONS

Allied Publication (AP):

"An AP is an official NATO Standardization document which some or all NATO nationsagree to use as a common implementing document and which is distributed down to userlevel." (Source: AAP-3)

Commonality:

"The state achieved when the same doctrine, procedures or equipment are used".

Compatibility:

"The suitability of products, processes or services for use together under specificconditions to fulfil relevant requirements without causing unacceptable interactions" (ISO-IEC).

Interchangeability:

"The ability of one product, process or service to be used in place of another to fulfil thesame requirements".

Interoperability:

"The ability of Alliance Forces, and when appropriate, forces of Partner and other nations,to train, exercise and operate effectively together, in the execution of assigned missionsand tasks."7

Operational Standardization:

The development of standards concerned with military issues such as: concepts,

doctrine, tactics, techniques, logistics, training, organizations, reports, forms, maps andcharts.

Standardization:

" The development and implementation of concepts, doctrines, procedures and designs toachieve and maintain the required levels of compatibility, interchangeability or

7Source AC/321-D/27 REV 3, forwarded for inclusion into AAP-6.


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commonality in the operational, procedural, materiel, technical and administrative fields toattain interoperability. Note: the three levels of standardization in ascending order are:compatibility, interchangeability and commonality. See also commonality, compatibility,interchangeability, interoperability.

Standardization Agreement (STANAG):

"The record of an agreement among several or all the members nations to adopt like orsimilar military equipment, ammunition, supplies and stores; and operational, logistic, andadministrative procedures. National acceptance of a NATO Allied Publication issued bythe NATO Standardization Agencymay be recorded as a Standardization Agreement.Also called STANAG." (Source: AAP-6)

Standardization Requirement:

Within NATO, the detailed statement, provided by a strategic command, a nation, or aNATO body, that identifies what should be standardized and the level of standardization tobe achieved in the operational, procedural, materiel, technical and administrative fields.

Standardization Objective

Within NATO, a precise statement of objectives to be achieved within a standardizationrequirement. (Source: AAP-6)

Tasking Authority

Senior NATO Body who has the authority to task its subordinate groups to produceSTANAGs and APs.

Nato Policy for Standardization

Documents

Transcript of Nato Policy for Standardization