NATO Asks Thales to Deploy NCOP Operational Situational Awareness System

The NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCI Agency) has selected Thales to install the NATO Common Operational Picture (NCOP 2) system at 30 fixed and deployed command centers and to train end-users.

The land, air and naval units engaged in joint operations field many different types of command systems, all of which generate huge amounts of georeferenced operational information. NCOP will capture, aggregate and correlate all this information in a cybersecure environment to generate a single comprehensive picture of the theatre of operations, providing a Common Operational Picture (COP) that will ensure each entity has a shared view of the locations, actions and intentions of forces in the field.

To meet this requirement, Thales has developed a software system based on an open architecture, with specialized modules that draw on the company’s experience of different aspects of the command chain and are fully compliant with commercial and military standards. The system is designed to provide operational users with secure access to multiple COPs overlaid on a basemap.

Having been selected for Increments 1 and 2 of the NCOP programme, Thales is continuing to help NATO enhance its mission coordination, planning and command capabilities, and has now been selected in partnership with GEOS to deploy the software and provide training for users.

The NCOP 2 system is currently under development, and will be deployed in 2023 after field testing. The Thales teams will deploy this new NCOP 2 capability within NATO’s own infrastructure and will ensure continuity of operational service for end-users.

In addition to installation, the services provided by Thales and GEOS will include comprehensive training for system administrators and users as well as on-site technical and operational assistance throughout the system adoption phase.