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NATO ISR Adaptation





  1. The deficiencies identified in the Libyan operation in particular spurred renewed emphasis on the need to enhance NATO’s airborne ISR capabilities. On the behest of France and the United States, Allies decided to develop better integration and interoperability of airborne ISR assets. Moreover, Libya also demonstrated the need for more ISR assets outside the circle of France, the United Kingdom, and the United States.



  1. Joint ISR





  1. As mandated by the 2012 Chicago Summit, NATO is currently establishing a Joint ISR (JISR) capability which will be capable of bringing together data and information from national ISR assets, NATO AWACS, and NATO AGS. In the 2014 Unified Vision exercise in Norway, Allies successfully trialed the JISR concept, linking satellites, manned and unmanned airborne ISR platforms, naval vessels, ground sensors, and human intelligence.




  1. Security concerns, national procedures, and technological constraints still pose many roadblocks for intelligence-sharing. However, once a JISR capability is fully established, Allies should be able to share ISR data and information securely and relatively seamlessly, reflecting NATO’s aim to move from the “need to know” to the “need to share” principle. To make the goal a reality, NATO will facilitate training of ISR experts, enhance information assurance, adapt doctrines and procedures, and establish a viable communication and information systems architecture. In February 2016, the NATO Response Force successfully demonstrated the JISR concept, prompting NATO defence ministers to declare that JISR had reached initial operational capability.




  1. At the 2016 Warsaw Summit, Allies agreed to “expand the scope of our JISR initiative, making the most effective use of Allies' complementary JISR contributions to enhance both strategic anticipation and awareness.” Allies also stated that they “intend to work together to promote intelligence-sharing, as appropriate, by using NATO platforms and networks and optimising use of multilateral platforms and networks to enhance overall JISR efforts, including but not limited to the JISR Smart Defence project.”




  1. In June, the Unified Vision 2016 trial took place across Allied territories with 400 participants from 17 Allied states working across 10 sites. Participants were required to respond to several complex scenarios, including convoy protection, hostage rescue, domestic terrorist threat and ballistic missile defence. In particular, the participants trialed the emerging concept of federated processing, exploitation, and dissemination. Today, expertise relevant to particular military missions is distributed across an often complex network of professionals. The concept of federated processing, exploitation, and dissemination describes the ability of armed forces to leverage expertise within these multi‑node network‑centric relationships.



  1. NATO’s Airborne Early Warning And Control Force





  1. Since 1982, the Alliance has operated a fleet of AWACS aircraft through NATO’s Airborne Early Warning and Control Force (NAEW&C Force). The NAEW&C Force, NATO’s largest collaborative effort, is one of the few military assets owned and operated by the Alliance. With their long-range radars and passive sensors, the 16 AWACS aircraft can detect air and ground targets over long distances. AWACS’ wide range of missions includes air policing, support of counter-terrorism efforts, non-combatant evacuations, embargoes, initial entry, crisis response, and show-of-force activities. While AWACS has not been designed as an ISR platform, it can support ISR operations and conduct air, maritime, and ground surveillance of areas the size of Central Europe. For example, the E-3As can coordinate and provide direction, management, and protection of JISR systems.




  1. It has been proposed that NATO's E-3As undergo their final lifetime upgrade. The Final Lifetime Extension Programme should cost roughly USD1 billion and will enhance the identification system, upgrade the cockpit with digital technology, and improve communication systems. NATO does not currently plan to upgrade the radar system, and some critics have argued this could degrade AWACS capabilities towards the end of the E-3A's lifetime. NATO is also working on integrating AWACS and AGS to enable the systems to communicate directly. Furthermore, an Alliance Future Surveillance and Control group has been working under the governance of NATO’s Committee of National Armaments Directors in order to assess what capability might follow on when the AWACS aircraft reach the end of their lifespan in 2035-2038.




  1. Importantly, the 2016 Warsaw Summit Communiqué declared that the Alliance “needs to have a follow-on capability to the E-3 AWACS” by 2035. A crucial decision was thus taken: Allies “decided to collectively start the process of defining options for future NATO surveillance and control capabilities”. As a follow-on capability is essential, time short, and costs significant, the Rapporteur urges the NATO Parliamentary Assembly and the STC in particular to pay close attention to this process as it unfolds.



  1. Allied Ground Surveillance (AGS)





  1. Responding to a call by NATO defence ministers, going back to 1992, for a complete and integrated ground surveillance capability, NATO is currently on track to use AGS in 2017. At the heart of the AGS system are five Global Hawk Block 40 aircraft, which will be operated by NATO on behalf of the Allies. Fifteen Allies came together to acquire the Global Hawks. France and the United Kingdom have announced they would provide NATO with contributions in kind3. The Global Hawks are equipped with radars capable of surveying moving targets on the ground and collecting imagery over land and water in any light or weather. Despite its capabilities, AGS should not be seen as a panacea for all of NATO’s ISR needs.




  1. AGS will be able to contribute to a range of missions such as protection of ground troops and civilian populations, border control, maritime safety, the fight against terrorism, crisis management, and humanitarian assistance in natural disasters. However, AGS is likely to be oriented towards deliberate missions as opposed to supporting fluid tactical operations, as its tactical ISR capabilities are limited. For example, the Global Hawks do not possess electro‑optical/infrared sensors and electronic warfare or signals intelligence capabilities. Hence, there is a need for Allies to complement the AGS missions with such sensors so as to make best use of the platform in any situation or, in the medium term, for AGS to be upgraded with additional sensors so as to improve its utility and value for money. During the Warsaw Summit, significant progress was noted. Initial operational capability is planned for 2017 and full operational capability for 2018. The main operating base for AGS is located in Sigonella, Italy. The first Global Hawk is scheduled to arrive in Sigonella by the end of 2016.




  1. NATO’s main ISR capability, the AGS programme should not, in the long term, rely solely on drones and only focus on information-gathering. Since analytical capabilities are based on a human factor, it is up to NATO to make the effort to train the personnel involved. To this day, France alone has a training course on how to operate mobile sonars which will benefit all. It is also necessary to recommend that all AGS actors be trained in image interpretation and intelligence production taking into account the entire chain of human resources/training/exercices in order to best use and exploit all future NATO capabilities. In this context, it seems appropriate to expand on the training sessions offered by the NATO School.


  1. Major Airborne ISR Efforts in Allied States





  1. Over the last several years, some Allies, in particular European Allies, have recognised their ISR capabilitity gaps and have initiated steps to remedy shortfalls and build up adequate ISR capabilities. This section presents a brief overview of a number of concrete major airborne ISR initiatives at national, bilateral, and multilateral levels, with a focus on operational and strategic ISR and battle management platforms. Such a brief overview cannot be exhaustive, in particular given the size of the market: in 2015, registered amounts for Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance amounted to USD99 billion; and by 2020, the market is projected to grow to USD125.5 billion. The Rapporteur therefore invites fellow Committee members to share further information during the STC meeting at the 2016 Annual Session.




  1. Several points should be kept in mind while reading this section. First, as noted already, ISR is much more than airborne ISR platforms. For a holistic picture of Allied ISR capabilities, it is necessary to look beyond aircraft platforms. Second, many modern military systems not exclusively tasked with ISR can perform such missions. For example, the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighter jet possesses considerable ISR capabilities. Third, ISR innovation does not only originate with the large-scale projects described in this section. As the Committee heard at the airborne ISR round table in Washington DC in April 2016, key innovations often emerge from small- and medium-sized enterprises as well.





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