NATO officials to brief on Afghan intelligence shake-up

Some 200 senior NATO officials and commanders will meet in The Hague, Netherlands, on 15 July, to announce the next steps in a radical overhaul of the way orders, intelligence and battle reports are shared between Alliance and coalition forces in Afghanistan.

Dubbed the Afghan Mission Network, the project will see a fundamental change in the way the NATO Allies, ISAF forces and US coalition troop share critical information.

The first elements of the project have been put into place as planned by 1 July and are already supporting operations.

“Up until now commanders have had to fight a war with three or four different computers and networks on their desks, with different information coming in on each one,” said General Leonardo Di Marco, SHAPE Deputy Chief of Staff Support, “For forces deployed in Afghanistan that will now be history. This development will have a profound impact on the effectiveness of operations, the safety of our troops and on our efforts to reduce civilian casualties. It is also a model for how we could run other operations, such as counter-piracy.”

Full operational capability is due in July 2011.

Media are invited to a briefing by General Di Marco, SHAPE Deputy Chief of Staff Support. This will include a live link to senior ISAF officials in theatre, and access to officials responsible for delivering the capability. Spaces are limited, to book a slot please contact Michal Olejarnik, NC3A Communication Manager.

Date & time: 15 July 2010, 3 pm (Hague local time)
Venue: NATO Consultation, Command and Control Agency (NC3A) in The Hague, Netherlands

New way of doing business

The project is also an example of NATO working with Industry to deliver urgent military capabilities in a very rapid timeframe. The contract managed by the NATO C3 Agency, and in partnership with the US and other NATO Agencies principally NCSA.

“NATO used to be infamous for decade-long programs that lagged behind requirements and technology,” said Georges D’hollander, NC3A General Manager, “We’re transforming that model and partnering with Industry to deliver advanced capability in very difficult conditions in a matter of months, not years.”

For further information, please contact Michal Olejarnik, NC3A Communications Manager, tel.: 0032 475 90 70 40, Michal.olejarnik@nc3a.nato.int



For further information, please contact Michal Olejarnik, NC3A Communications Manager, tel.: 0032 475 90 70 40, Michal.olejarnik@nc3a.nato.int