3 Mar. 2004

Progress on new NATO air command and control system Background NATO Air Command And Control System (ACCS) Biography François Naville, Ingénieur général de l’armement National co-vice chairman, NATO C3 Board This year, testing begins of NATO’s Air Command and Control System (ACCS), which is intended to combine, and automate, at the tactical level the planning, tasking and execution of all air operations. The system was conceived in the 1980s to replace existing air defence systems. When operational, the ACCS will provide a unified air command and control system, enabling NATO member countries, including the seven new members, to seamlessly manage all types of air operations over their territory, and beyond. In December 2003, the programme successfully concluded its software Critical Design Review, and formally moved into the software development phase, although some 40% of the software had already been coded through parallel activities. Testing will begin this year, with validation planned to begin in the second half of 2005 and to last about a year before the system will be ready for operational use. The NATO ACCS Management Agency (NACMA) in Brussels manages the project. On 1 August 2004 the Agency’s General Manager, Lt Gen (Ret) André Nicolau, will retire. IGA François Naville, currently the Co-Vice Chairman of the NATO Consultation, Command and Control Board in Brussels, will replace him.