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Backgrounder: Interoperability for joint operations 3. Standardization Agreements Contents   1. Interoperability for joint operations   2. NATO standardization policy  3. Standardization Agreements  4. Aerial refuelling  5. Multinational forces  6. Combined Joint NATO Response Force  7. Multinational Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defence Battalion  8. Operating with Partners Editorial Note   Important publisher and editorial information about this document Other Formats English PDF (~860Kb) Printable version with colour illustrations Order a hardcopy version using the online order form. STANAGs establish processes, procedures, terms and conditions for common military or technical procedures or equipment between NATO member nations. They provide common operational and administrative procedures and logistics so one Alliance member's military can use the support and supplies of another member's military. Each Alliance member ratifies a STANAG and implements it within its own military. They are published in English and French by the NATO Standardization Agency. There are hundreds of STANAGs covering everything from language proficiency to control of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The first STANAGs established common standards for English and French language proficency levels. English is the military lingua franca of NATO, and is one of the two official languages of the Alliance, along with French. Being able to communicate in a common language is a prerequisite for interoperability. One key area where standardization efforts have been necessary is refuelling. While that would appear to be a straightforward task, there are dozens of STANAGs covering various aspects, depending on the vehicle or aircraft involved and where it is being refuelled. Refuelling can be done on the ground, at sea or in the air (see box on latter). There are also different types of fuel. Fuel-related STANAGs therefore set standards for refuelling at airfields and ports, storage, different types of fuel and lubricants, filters and fuel caps. Another standardization agreement, STANAG 4586, sets out the specifications of a common ground station for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) used by NATO forces. Implementation of the agreement will allow information between different national UAVs to be collated and shared via common ground stations, which in turn will mean that NATO and national commanders will have far greater control over the use of UAVs in military operations. The 250-page document sets out five levels of interoperability: transfer of filtered UAV data to a third party direct transfer of live UAV data via a ground station to a remote command system control of the onboard systems by commanders in the command system in-flight control by the command system full flight control by the command system, including take-off and landing

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