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Support to Forces


The NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA) plays a crucial role enabling forces to communicate effectively and operate together during joint exercises, missions and operations.

Our experts provide robust static and deployable communications infrastructure, satellite communications and information technology services in different operational theatres, contributing to the readiness of the Alliance's forces and the strengthening of NATO's defence and deterrence posture.

NCIA contributes to NATO operations in Kosovo, the NATO mission in Iraq, the NATO Air Policing mission, and NATO and national exercises across the world. We enable end-to-end CIS services through several CIS Support Units (CSUs) in 22 locations across the Alliance.

  • We support defence planning and operational analysis to help planners and decision-makers within NATO and the Nations make informed decisions.
  • We enable secure and resilient data, voice and video communication services to forces operating in missions and operations, worldwide.
  • We contribute to the collection, processing, exploitation and dissemination of intelligence data and information to provide decision-makers with a better situational awareness.
  • We provide space-related services, including geospatial services, navigation warfare and satellite communications ensuring effective command, control and communications among Allied forces.

NCIA's support to NATO exercises

NATO plans and executes exercises to prepare commands and forces for operations in times of peace, crisis and concepts. Exercises allow the Alliance to test and validate concepts, procedures, systems and tactics.

NCIA contributes to a wide range of exercises throughout the year, ensuring that Allies and Partners can seamlessly operate together and improve interoperability among forces.

NCIA's contribution to NATO operations and missions

Kosovo Force

NATO has been leading a peace-support operation in Kosovo since 1999 in support of wider international efforts to build peace and stability in the area. Through the Kosovo Force (KFOR) mission, NATO assists and cooperates with Partner Nations and other international organizations such as the United Nations, and the European Union, to support the development of a stable, democratic, multi-ethnic and peaceful Kosovo.

NCIA supports NATO in this effort by delivering core communications and information systems (CIS) infrastructure and services to KFOR. NCIA develops an annual support plan to the mission and coordinates all operational requirements from KFOR headquarters through Joint Force Command Naples (JFC Naples) to deliver projects which ensure the success of NATO's support to KFOR. Additionally, NCIA supports NATO Headquarters Sarajevo (NHQSA) and European Union Force Bosnia and Herzegovina (Operation Althea) in delivering annual operation and mission projects, coordinating sustainment, and delivering new customer requirements to support necessary operational changes.

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Air Policing Mission

The NATO Air Policing Mission is a permanent peacetime mission that aims to preserve the security of the Allied airspace and enable NATO Nations to react quickly to airspace violations. Contributing to NATO's collective defence, this mission is a clear sign of cohesion, shared responsibility and solidarity across the Alliance.

NCIA ensures secure communications for the Combined Air Operations Centre to support the Air Policing mission. We provide the means needed to connect to the radars, the control centres and the aircraft. In doing so, we ensure the airspace is safe for every aircraft passing through, and for the population that lives below.

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NATO Mission in Iraq

NATO Mission Iraq is a non-combat advisory and capacity-building mission launched at the NATO Summit in 2018 following a request from the government of Iraq. It assists Iraq in building more sustainable, transparent, inclusive and effective armed forces and security institutions, so that Iraqis themselves are better able to stabilize their country, fight terrorism and prevent the return of ISIS/Daesh.

NCIA supports this operation by deploying and defending relevant, modern CIS infrastructure in close coordination with JFC Naples. We supply 24/7 reach back support of all services to the mission, allowing for effective delivery of capabilities that enable operational continuity. To support necessary changes in operational requirements, we continuously coordinate and cooperate with deployed units in Iraq and leading commands to ensure efficient delivery of new services and continuous improvement to the existing NATO mission.

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