Chapter 2. Purpose of the NISP

2. The NISP provides the necessary standards and profiles to support C3 interoperability and a federated environment. Also the Combined Communications Electronics Board (CCEB) nations use the NISP to publish the interoperability standards for the CCEB under the provisions of the NATO-CCEB List of Understandings (LoU)[2]. In addition, in order to support the Lisbon and Chicago Capability Commitments, interoperability profiles for the NATO Response Force (NRF) and transition from today's legacy systems to a federated environment are provided.

3. The purpose of the NISP is to:

  • Encourage Nations to use the same standards as within the NATO CIS implementations in NATO led operations;

  • Serve as the principal source of technical guidance for management of NATO CIS project implementations;

  • Track technology developments in order to optimise application development;

  • Identify and manage all applicable CIS standards as a baseline for optimising programmes and project selection and adherence;

  • Provide measurable criteria for assessing CIS products for NATO application;

  • Support architecture-based CIS programme development and evolution;

  • Provision of technical reference and rationale to promote and optimise NATO CIS interoperability;

  • Promote NATO internal, Nation to NATO and Nation to Nation interoperability;

  • Provide guidance on Federated Mission Networking;

  • Identify applicable Design Rules to support cooperation in federated common missions with proven solutions;

  • Identify applicable Profiles as a baseline for optimising CIS implementation and utilization to support cross-domain scenarios.

4. The stakeholders of the NISP are all stakeholders involved in development, implementation, lifecycle management, and transformation to a federated environment. Stakeholder review will take place periodically and the results reflected in this section.

5. The mandatory standards and profiles documented in Volume 2 and 3 will be used in the implementation of NATO Common Funded Systems. Participating nations agree to use the mandatory standards and profiles included in the NISP at the Service Interoperability Points and to use Service Interface Profiles among NATO and Nations to support the exchange of information and the use of information services in the NATO realm.


[2] References:NATO Letter AC/322(SC/5)L/144 of 18 October 2000, CCEB Letter D/CCEB/WS/1/16 of 9 November 2000, NATO Letter AC/322(SC/5)L/157 of 13 February 2001