62. The application of the NATO Interoperability Standards and Profiles (NISP) has enabled NATO to increase interoperability across Communications and Information Systems (CIS) throughout the Enterprise and across Member Nations. Tools employed include open system industry standards, NATO STANAGS, architectural views, interoperability points, and interface profiles. To fully leverage Net Centric operations into the NATO Response Force (NRF), these tools must be applied across the various commands and participants supporting an NRF.
63. This Generic NRF Interface Profile effort was established through direct tasking from the NATO C3 Board (NC3B) Information Systems Sub-Committee (ISSC) to the NATO Open Systems Working Group (NOSWG) in May 2005. Tasking was for the NOSWG to assist in the process of NRF interoperability through:
Establishment of an NRF Tiger Team,
Continuation of NRF Interface Profile development, and
Application of NRF Interface Profiles for operational use.
64. The intent of this document is to develop the need for NRF interoperability initiatives, identify the interrelationships to existing efforts, and identify a process for NRF rotation specific profile development. The need for greater collaboration across NATO and Nations requires a shift in focus from traditional products that are not linked to the operational community. Therefore the NRF Interface Profiles will serve as a dynamic reference for rotating NRF communities of interest.
65. This document will serve as a resource for future NRF planners, to be used as a guide in achieving interoperability between NATO nations. NRF Interface Profiles are for use throughout the complete lifecycle of an NRF. The NRF profiles will leverage the robust information infrastructures of NATO and its Member Nations supporting an NRF, and will enable Net Centric operations by enhancing collaboration across the NRF operational environment. Subsequent NRF rotations will benefit from the modular nature of the profiles, which will allow for maximum reuse of established capabilities, while accommodating unique requirements and technology improvements through the NISP change proposal process.
66. Solutions will be identified to enrich the CIS capabilities across the physical, service, and application layers of an NRF. Additionally it will provide a vehicle for improved data transfer and information exchange. Access to NATO Enterprise, Core, and Functional services will further enable the extension of strategic systems into the tactical environment. The ability to reach back to key capabilities, while providing greater situational awareness and collaboration for improved decision making is an anticipated benefit throughout the NATO Enterprise.
67. Additional benefits to NRF turn-up, deployment and sustained operations include:
Speed of execution of information operations,
Richer information environment,
More dynamic information exchange between NATO and Nations,
Speedier standup of an NRF,
Reach back to feature rich information enterprise, and
Elimination of hierarchical information flow.
68. Participating nations are encouraged to use this document as part of the planning process for coordination and establishment of connectivity and interoperability with respect to joint NATO operations.