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24 July 2000 DOCUMENT
C-M(2000)54
Silence Procedure Ends:
17h30 on 21 August 2000
NATO COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
NATO POLICY FOR STANDARDIZATION
Note by the Secretary General
1. I enclose the agreed NATO Policy for Standardization by the NATO Committee for
Standardization for Council approval.
2. This Policy was finalized after the Review of the NATO Standardization Process,
which was earlier endorsed by the Council
1
. It provides an overall framework for the
conduct of standardization activities in the Alliance.
RECOMMENDATION
3. Permanent Representatives are invited to approve the NATO Policy for
Standardization.
4. Unless I hear to the contrary by 17h30 on Monday, 21 August 2000, I shall
assume that the Council has taken this action.
(Signed) George Robertson
1 Annex
Original: English
5 Appendices
1
C-M(2000)31, dated 24 May 2000 and Action Sheet
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NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL
NATO COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
NATO POLICY
FOR
STANDARDIZATION
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NATO POLICY FOR STANDARDIZATION
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION 1-3
POLICY STATEMENT 1-3
AIM OF NATO STANDARDIZATION 1-3
PRINCIPLES OF NATO STANDARDIZATION 1-4
THE NATO STANDARDIZATION PROCESS 1-5
RESPONSIBILITIES 1-5
Appendix 1 Development and implementation of NATO Standards 1-7
Appendix 2 The NATO Standardization Programme 1-9
Appendix 3 The NATO Standardization Organization (NSO) 1-11
Appendix 4 Civil Standards 1-13
Appendix 5 Definitions 1-14

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NATO POLICY FOR STANDARDIZATION
INTRODUCTION
1. The 1999 Alliance Strategic Concept defines NATOs role in Euro-Atlantic security
and provides a strategic framework for Alliance military planners. It reaffirms the
determination to strengthen Alliance defence capabilities and enhance the ability to
accomplish effectively the full spectrum of NATO missions. This requires particular
attention to the challenges of interoperability.
2. Interoperability - the ability of Alliance Forces and when appropriate, forces of
Partner and other nations, to train, exercise and operate effectively together in the
execution of assigned missions and tasks - must be improved in order to ensure the
effectiveness of multinational operations.
3. NATO Standardization is defined as The development and implementation of
concepts, doctrines, procedures, and designs to achieve and maintain the required levels
of compatibility, interchangeability or commonality in the operational, procedural, materiel,
technical and administrative fields to attain interoperability.
4. NATO Standardization is a key element and principal means for Nations, Strategic
Commands and Principal NATO Committees to achieve the required interoperability.
NATO Standardization contributes as a force multiplier to enhance interoperability.
POLICY STATEMENT
5. In order to strengthen the Alliance defence capabilities, it is Alliance policy that
Nations and NATO Authorities will enhance interoperability inter alia through
standardization. NATO Nations will develop, agree and implement standardization
agreements to achieve and maintain compatibility, interchangeability or commonality of
concepts, doctrines, procedures and designs. These agreements, once ratified, will be
promulgated in appropriate NATO Standardization Agreements (STANAGs) and Allied
Publications (APs). Nations having accepted the agreements, will implement them in the
most expeditious manner in response to operational needs.
6. The NATO Policy for Standardization is approved by the North Atlantic Council. The
NATO Committee for Standardization (NCS) is its custodian.
AIM OF NATO STANDARDIZATION
7. The aim of NATO Standardization is to enhance the Alliance's operational
effectiveness through the attainment of interoperability among Alliance forces, and
additionally between NATO forces and forces of Partners and other nations, thus
improving efficiency in the use of available resources.
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PRINCIPLES OF NATO STANDARDIZATION
8. The following principles guide the application of NATO Standardization:
8.1 GENERAL ALLIANCE OBJECTIVES - Standardization is not an end in itself. The
need for standardization is derived from the overall political objectives of the North Atlantic
Treaty, and specifically from the Alliance Strategic Concept and the Ministerial Guidance
for defence planning activities in NATO .
8.2 HARMONIZATION OF STANDARDIZATION WITH NATO DEFENCE PLANNING -
Coordination among NATO defence planning disciplines is essential for harmonization and
achievement of interoperability. For Nations concerned, Force Planning is a key focus for
the standardization process through the Force Goals and Defence Review Cycles.
Partnership Goals address standardization requirements to Nations participating in the PfP
Planning and Review Process (PARP). Implementation is then reviewed in PARP
Assessment.
8.3 UNITY OF EFFORT - Unity of effort is enhanced by harmonization and coordination
of standardization activities with Nations, Strategic Commands and Senior NATO
Committees through the NATO Standardization Organization.
8.4 USE OF CIVIL STANDARDS - The Alliance will use suitable civil standards to the
maximum practicable extent. Only when no applicable civil standard is available, will a
NATO standard be developed.
8.5 ATTAINMENT OF STANDARDIZATION LEVEL - Nations should achieve the levels
of standardization indicated in the Standardization Requirement. The levels of
standardization are in ascending order: Compatibility, Interchangeability and Commonality.
8.6 FEEDBACK - Feedback on fulfilment of Standardization Requirements and
implementation of Standardization Agreements is an essential part of the standardization
process.
8.7 NATIONAL COMMITMENT - In principle standardization is voluntary for Nations.
Nations shall implement standards as applicable and to the maximum possible extent. In
some instances nations may agree to the mandatory implementation of specific
standards. Full compliance with the Force Goals for nations participating in Force
Planning is a key aspect of national commitment to improve standardization.
8.8 TERMINOLOGY - NATO documents must use NATO agreed terminology.
THE NATO STANDARDIZATION PROCESS
9. The NATO Standardization Process involves proposing, developing, agreeing,
ratifying, promulgating, implementing and updating NATO standards. It comprises two
complementary elements: the so called "bottom-up" and "top-down" standardization.
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10. Bottom-up standardization is initiated by reporting standardization needs and/or
deficiencies. This is followed by Standardization Proposals, formulated by NATO Working
Groups, which are validated by the appropriate Tasking Authority (TA)
2
to confirm the
requirement before the development of a STANAG starts.
11. Top-down standardization is initiated when the Strategic Commands (SCs) identify
Military Standardization Requirements as part of Force Proposals for nations participating
in the Force Planning Process. It requires a clear formulation of these requirements and
the allocation of priority scores based on the Bi-SCs agreed Basic Priority List. These
Military Standardization Requirements, together with other requirements for
standardization from NATO nations and from Tasking Authorities, constitute Alliance
Standardization Requirements. Top-down standardization comprises 4 phases:
11.1 Phase 1: Identification, formulation and approval of Standardization
Requirements .
11.2 Phase 2: Identification, formulation and agreement of Standardization
Objectives based on these requirements.
11.3 Phase 3: Execution of tasks by the TAs, resulting from the approved
Standardization Objectives.
11.4 Phase 4: Implementation of top-down Standardization and feedback.
12. Top-down Alliance Standardization Requirements, complemented by appropriate
bottom-up Standardization Proposals, lead to the development and implementation of the
NATO Standardization Programme (NSP). The NSP is the Alliances management tool for
standardization activities.
RESPONSIBILITIES
13. Nations and the NATO Military Authorities have the responsibility for identifying
standardization requirements, indicating the required levels of standardization, and
recommending priorities.
13.1. The Strategic Commands are responsible for identifying Military Standardization
Requirements in Force Proposals for nations participating in Force Planning, and for
indicating their priority scores and the required levels of standardization. They are also
responsible for initial formulation of standardization requirements in draft Partnership
Goals in close coordination with NATO HQ staff.
2
Senior NATO Body who has the authority to task their subordinate groups to produce STANAGs and
APs.
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13.2. Nations are responsible for the ratification and implementation of NATO Standards
and for identifying additional requirements for standardization as necessary.
13.3. The Military Committee (MC), the Conference of National Armaments Directors
(CNAD), the NATO Consultation, Command and Control Board (NC3B) and the Senior
NATO Logisticians Conference (SNLC) are responsible for the development and updating
of NATO Standards, in their capacity as Tasking Authorities. They are also responsible for
identifying significant Standardization Proposals for inclusion into the NATO
Standardization Programme as well as for the implementation of tasks resulting from that
Programme. The MC is responsible for operational standardization.
13.4 The NATO Standardization Organization will consist of the following dedicated
functional elements: NATO Committee for Standardization (NCS), Group of NCS
Representatives (NCSREPs), NATO Standardization Staff Group (NSSG), NATO
Standardization Agency (NSA) and Tasking Authorities Working Groups.
13.5 The NATO Standardization Organization is responsible for the harmonization and
coordination of Alliance standardization efforts and for the provision of support for
standardization activities.
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DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF NATO STANDARDS
1. The development of NATO Standards is the direct responsibility of Tasking
Authorities, as defined in AAP-3. This responsibility includes the management and
updating of all existing STANAGs and APs; the identification, formulation and agreement
of new standards and recording of national ratification details. Promulgation of agreed
NATO Standards is a Director NSA responsibility.
2. Identification of NATO Standards - The STANAG development process starts
with the identification of the need for a new standard, either through a Task resulting from
a Standardization Objective in the NATO Standardization Programme (Top-down), or from
a Standardization Proposal (Bottom-up) which is submitted to the appropriate TA by NATO
bodies and/or individual nations.
3. Formulation of NATO Standards - Formulating or updating of NATO Standards is
international in character; hence these actions must be coordinated internationally by
relevant NATO Bodies. Formulation of NATO standards can best be accomplished by
multinational expert Bodies. In order to achieve an appropriate and affordable level of
standardization, nations should indicate in advance their intentions to participate in the
development and implementation of new NATO Standards, before STANAG development
is initiated.
4. Ratification of NATO Standards. The TAs approve the ratification draft for
circulation to nations and request details of the ratification, such as intended date of
implementation and the effective date of implementation. Some proposed NATO standards
may not be relevant to all Alliance nations. Therefore nations have the option of not
participating in the development and ratification of a standard.
5. Promulgation of NATO Standards. A STANAG will normally be forwarded for
promulgation when at least the majority of participating nations have ratified. Exceptionally
for key doctrine documents and for urgent operational requirements the consensus rule
will apply. When the TA decides that promulgation criteria have been achieved, the
STANAG is forwarded to the Director NSA for promulgation.
6. Urgent Standardization Requirements - To meet urgent operational requirements
specified by the NATO Military Authorities related STANAGs will be developed under an
accelerated procedure as appropriate.
7. Consensus. For STANAGs developed under an accelerated procedure, to meet
an urgent operational requirement, and for key Allied Publications directly related to MC
Policy documents, consensus is essential.
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8. Implementation of NATO Standards - Implementation of promulgated NATO
Standards is a national responsibility. Nations shall implement NATO standards
accordingly.
9. Verification/Review of STANAGs - The verification of a STANAGs applicability
may be carried out in Crisis Response Operations, exercises and other operations. The
verification will confirm the relevance of a STANAG which will be evaluated on the basis of
a verification plan to be agreed by Nations. The information gained using this verification
plan may result in either changes to STANAGs or their cancellation. STANAGs are to be
reviewed at least once every three years to determine their validity.
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THE NATO STANDARDIZATION PROGRAMME (NSP)
1. Top-down Alliance Standardization Requirements, complemented by appropriate
bottom-up Standardization Proposals, constitute the basis for the development of the
NSP. Its purpose is to provide a measurable response to Alliance standardization needs in
the form of a dynamic, executive-level management tool, recognized throughout NATO, to
assist the coordination and direction of standardization activity conducted in accordance
with the NATO Policy for Standardization.
2. The NSP is produced in the form of an electronic database. This facilitates its
maintenance, update and issue of reports. It contains sufficient detail to enable Tasking
Authorities to task subordinate groups, and for Nations and Senior NATO Committees to
monitor progress.
3. The development and maintenance of the NATO Standardization Programme is
divided into 3 steps:
3.1 Step 1: Identification, formulation and approval of Alliance Standardization
Requirements;
3.2 Step 2: Development of Standardization Objectives, based on these
requirements and on validated Standardization Proposals;
3.3 Step 3: Feedback from TAs on the implementation and execution of tasks
included in the NSP.
STEP 1 - IDENTIFICATION OF STANDARDIZATION REQUIREMENTS
4. This step is initiated by the Strategic Commands (SCs), through the formulation of
detailed Military Standardization Requirements (MSRs) as part of Force Proposals with
active participation of the NATO HQ staffs involved in standardization. Approved MSRs
3
together with possible other requirements for standardization from NATO Nations,
especially from Nations not participating in Force Planning and from Principal NATO
Committees then constitute Alliance Standardization Requirements (ASRs).
5. Recognizing the inter-relationship between NATO and Partner Nations, the
harmonization of related standardization requirements needs to be established. As in the
development of MSRs in NATO Force Planning, a similar mechanism should be developed
for Partnership Goals.
3
At this stage the NSA, if required and in full cooperation with the SCs, will add details to the MSRs
for the further development into Standardization Objectives.
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STEP 2 - DEVELOPMENT OF STANDARDIZATION OBJECTIVES
6. The second step starts with the selection by nations in the NCS of agreed ASRs for
further development. The NATO Standardization Staff Group (NSSG) identifies the tasks
to achieve the requirements. The ASRs with enumerated tasks, also from Standardization
Proposals, are Standardization Objectives (SOs).
7. The Standardization Objectives are reviewed by the appropriate Tasking Authority
subordinate structure to update the SO information as required and to evaluate the
technical feasibility, affordability and timelines of the Standardization Objectives. After a
staff review and harmonization by the NATO Committee for Standardization they are
approved by the appropriate TA in the Spring of the odd years and submitted to the NCS
for overall endorsement. The Strategic Commands are kept informed. The NCS
coordinates the NSP implementation and reports to the Council.
STEP 3 - FEEDBACK ON THE IMPLEMENTATION AND EXECUTION OF TASKS
INCLUDED IN THE NSP
8. The Tasking Authorities are responsible for implementing SOs and executing
Standardization Tasks derived from SOs within their area of responsibility. They will
provide the necessary direction to their subordinate structure thereby taking into account
the priorities provided by the Strategic Commands and by the NCSREPs. "Feedback" will
be provided by regular update of the NSP.
9. Implementation of agreed NATO Standards resulting from the tasks included in the
NSP is a national responsibility. The NATO Standardization Agency monitors this.
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THE NATO STANDARDIZATION ORGANIZATION (NSO)
1. NSO Mission:
"The Mission of the NATO Standardization Organization is to enhance interoperability and
to contribute to the ability of Alliance Forces to train, exercise and operate effectively
together, and when appropriate, with forces of Partners and other nations, in the execution
of assigned missions and tasks, through the harmonization and coordination of Alliance
Standardization efforts".
2. NSO Objectives:
2.1 to be the Alliance authority on standardization matters;
2.2 to develop and maintain the NATO Policy for Standardization;
2.3 to identify and address priority areas for standardization;
2.4 to contribute to the formulation of standardization requirements in NATO Force
Planning;
2.5 to develop and manage the NATO Standardization Programme;
2.6 to be the focus of Alliance standardization efforts;
2.7 to coordinate and monitor the production and maintenance of operational,
procedural, materiel, technical and administrative standards;
2.8 to monitor the implementation of NATO Standards;
2.9 to promote the adoption of relevant civil and commercial standards within NATO
and cooperation with civil and commercial standards organizations;
2.10 to contribute to the development of Partnership Goals in the Partnership for Peace
Planning and Review Process (PARP) and to promote collaboration on standardization
matters with Partners and international organizations;
2.11 to provide a forum for the expression of national positions on standardization
matters.
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3. NATO Standardization Organization:
3.1 NATO Committee for Standardization (NCS) Senior NATO Committee,
reporting to the Council, with full authority and management responsibility for Alliance
Standardization coordination on policy and decision taking. The NCS is assisted by the
Group of NCS representatives with delegated authority (NCSREPs) to achieve its mission.
The NCSREPs will address the NSO Objectives, promote the interaction between national
organizations and NATO and prepare NCS decisions or act on its behalf. The NCS is the
Board of Directors for the NATO Standardization Agency (NSA).
3.2 NATO Standardization Staff Group (NSSG) Staff group subordinate to the NCS,
responsible for staff liaison, for the staffing of projects assigned to the NSA by the NCS
and for preparation of documentation, contributing, inter alia, to the formulation of Military
Standardization Requirements by the Strategic Commands and drafting of Standardization
Objectives. The NSSG will be supported by NSSG Working Groups to undertake specific
standardization tasks.
3.3 Tasking Authorities Working Groups (WGs) Working Groups responsible for
producing and maintaining the standards as directed by their parent TA.
3.4 NATO Standardization Agency (NSA) - A single, integrated body, composed of
military and civilian staff, subordinate to the Council through the NCS, with the authority to
coordinate issues between all fields of standardization. The Joint and Single Service
Boards, supported by the NSA, will each act as a Tasking Authority, delegated by the
Military Committee, for Operational Standardization, including doctrine
4
. The NSA will set
out procedures, planning and execution functions related to standardization for application
throughout the Alliance. It is responsible for the preparation of the work for the NCS,
NCSREPs and NSSG meetings and will ensure, with its experts in the different fields,
centralized coordination, liaison with, and if required, support for Tasking Authorities
Working Groups which develop standards.
4
In accordance with MC Guidance on the relationship between NATO Policy and Military Doctrine
(MCM 077 00, dated 17 May 2000).
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CIVIL STANDARDS
1. Suitable civil standards shall be adopted for use within NATO, preferably without
modifications, unless there are compelling reasons not to do so. The following general
order of precedence shall be applied when selecting civil standards for purposes of NATO
Standardization:
1.1 International Standards produced by ISO, IEC, ITU,
5
IETF
6
or any Publicly Available
Specification (PAS) adopted for NATO use.
1.2 Regional (International) Standards for instance European Standards (EN) or
European Telecommunications Standards (ETS).
1.3 National Standards.
1.4 Commercial publically available Standards.
1.5 Civil standards and Commercial and Government off-the-shelf equipment and
products (COTS and GOTS) may be used provided that an appropriate NATO body has
reviewed them and has recommended adoption for NATO use on the basis of their
maturity, cost-effectiveness, security aspects and product availability. Adoption of any
such equipment/materiel or software standards by NATO should be through the cover of a
STANAG, properly ratified by nations.
2. If civil standards are adopted for purposes of NATO Standardization the applicable
Civil Organization, number, title and date of issue of the respective standard are to be
referenced under a cover sheet STANAG. Additional military augmentations or limitations
may be specified either in the standard being adopted under the covering STANAG, in a
supplement to the standard or in the covering STANAG as appropriate.
5
ISO = International Standardization Organization
IEC = International Electrotechnical Commission
ITU = International Telecommunications Union
6
IETF=Internet Engineering Task Force
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DEFINITIONS
Allied Publication (AP):
"An AP is an official NATO Standardization document which some or all NATO nations
agree to use as a common implementing document and which is distributed down to user
level." (Source: AAP-3)
Commonality:
"The state achieved when the same doctrine, procedures or equipment are used".
Compatibility:
"The suitability of products, processes or services for use together under specific
conditions to fulfil relevant requirements without causing unacceptable interactions" (ISO-
IEC).
Interchangeability:
"The ability of one product, process or service to be used in place of another to fulfil the
same requirements".
Interoperability:
"The ability of Alliance Forces, and when appropriate, forces of Partner and other nations,
to train, exercise and operate effectively together, in the execution of assigned missions
and tasks."
7
Operational Standardization:
The development of standards concerned with military issues such as: concepts,
doctrine, tactics, techniques, logistics, training, organizations, reports, forms, maps and
charts.
Standardization:
" The development and implementation of concepts, doctrines, procedures and designs to
achieve and maintain the required levels of compatibility, interchangeability or
7
Source AC/321-D/27 REV 3, forwarded for inclusion into AAP-6.
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commonality in the operational, procedural, materiel, technical and administrative fields to
attain interoperability. Note: the three levels of standardization in ascending order are:
compatibility, interchangeability and commonality. See also commonality, compatibility,
interchangeability, interoperability.
Standardization Agreement (STANAG):
"The record of an agreement among several or all the members nations to adopt like or
similar military equipment, ammunition, supplies and stores; and operational, logistic, and
administrative procedures. National acceptance of a NATO Allied Publication issued by
the NATO Standardization Agency may be recorded as a Standardization Agreement.
Also called STANAG." (Source: AAP-6)
Standardization Requirement:
Within NATO, the detailed statement, provided by a strategic command, a nation, or a
NATO body, that identifies what should be standardized and the level of standardization to
be achieved in the operational, procedural, materiel, technical and administrative fields.
Standardization Objective
Within NATO, a precise statement of objectives to be achieved within a standardization
requirement. (Source: AAP-6)
Tasking Authority
Senior NATO Body who has the authority to task its subordinate groups to produce
STANAGs and APs.