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Apr 30 2026

NCIA supports CIS collective defence capabilities during Steadfast Cobalt 26 Alpha

From 7 to 30 April 2026, the first execution phase, known as Alpha, of Steadfast Cobalt 26 took place across 35 locations. Approximately 700 participants from 34 NATO Entities across 14 Allied Nations took part, demonstrating NATO’s commitment to collective defence and enhanced communication interoperability across all domains.

Steadfast Cobalt is NATO’s largest annual communications and information systems (CIS) interoperability event, virtually bringing together NATO entities to verify, validate, and enhance the interoperability of integrated static and deployable CIS systems within a shared mission network. Organized by the NATO CIS Group (NCISG), Steadfast Cobalt ensures a secure, robust and agile network that supports NATO’s readiness and operational effectiveness.

Nearly 250 CIS experts from the NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA) supported Steadfast Cobalt 26 Alpha to ensure seamless connectivity and communication between participants. During planning and preparation, NCIA provided the foundations for the mission network, coordinating service design, establishing interoperability tests, performing technical evaluations and providing configuration tools. NCIA’s Chief Technology Office (CTO) served as the technical design authority for coordinating federated services across network contributions from NATO and national networks

“Steadfast Cobalt 26 Alpha is the fourth phase of expansion of the mission network that has been especially created for collective defence, integrating Forces under Supreme Allied Commander Europe’s command and control,” said Nicholas Lambert, Principal Enterprise Architect from NCIA’s CTO.

NCIA’s CIS Sustainment Support Centre (CSSC) provided CIS user equipment to ensure seamless coordination across the mission landscape and NCIA prepared the CIS for deployment by NCISG and supported static infrastructure for static users.

During the execution phase, NCIA deployed more than 70 experts across different locations to provide localized support in implementing and maintaining the operational mission network, and securing CIS capabilities.

NCIA’s Chief Quality Office (CQO) led the verification and validation process during the exercise, ensuring that every capability can communicate, share information and interoperate, while the NCI Academy delivered a workshop focused on tactical communications ahead of the exercise.

“Our work ensures that every participating unit understands the readiness level of its systems by the end of the exercise,” explains Werner Slippens, Senior Engineer from NCIA’s CQO. “The CQO creates the test requirements, prepares the test cases and coordinates this schedule to achieve the testing of all systems.”

Steadfast Cobalt 26 underscores NCIA’s role delivering and strengthening CIS defence capabilities across the Alliance, at speed and at scale, and demonstrates how such exercises strengthen readiness of national systems for better interoperability.