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Backgrounder: Interoperability for joint operations 5. Multinational forces 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. NATO multinational forces, which are composed of units from several nations, are a practical demonstration of interoperability. The first of these forces set up by NATO was the Allied Command Europe Mobile Force (Land) (AMF(L)), which was created in 1960. AMF(L) was initially composed of forces from four nations - Belgium, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States - growing to 19 nations by 1999. AMF(L) was disbanded in 2002 and its capabilities replaced by High Readiness Force (Land) headquarters able to command rapid response missions from the size of the AMF(L) to a much larger multinational corps. The AMF(L) had an equivalent for air forces made up of aircraft of different Allied nations. NATO created the first of several multinational naval forces, Standing Naval Force Atlantic (STANAVFORLANT), composed of ships of different Alliance members, in 1967, followed by Standing Naval Forces Mediterranean, and Mine Countermeasures Force North and South. These multinational land, air and naval forces were made up of national battalions, companies, squadrons, and ships. It was only with the creation of the NATO Airborne Early Warning Force in 1980 that military personnel from different Alliance members were integrated into the same military unit down to the individual level. The E-3A Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) squadrons of what has since become the NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control Force are manned by integrated international crews from 12 nations: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Turkey and the United States. They will be joined by Hungary, the latest country to join the NATO AWACS programme. The NATO Response Force (NRF) combines land, air, sea and special forces into one package (see box). These components are not only multinational, with various nations contributing forces which can work together, they are also interoperable with each other. The NRF is supported by another multinational force, the NATO Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defence Battalion (see box). The Alliance is considering setting up more multinational units specialized in other areas, like explosive ordnance disposal.

© NATO - OTAN 2006 -	NATO Public Diplomacy Division 1110 Brussels, Belgium - E-mail: natodoc@hq.nato.int