Since 2012, Thales has worked closely with NATO on the development of NCOP through Increment-1 and Increment-2, which are currently deployed across approximately 30 NATO command centres. The newly awarded contract represents a continuation of this collaboration, supporting NATO’s coordination, planning, and command tasks.
The third phase of NCOP introduces advanced ballistic missile defence (BMD) functionalities to address the growing threat posed by ballistic missiles, especially to European member states. “Thales will be providing new functionalities for ballistic missile defence in order to improve the situational awareness of NATO Commanders with BMD enhancement,” stated Gérard Herby, Vice President, Protection Systems, Thales.
Modern joint operations involve land, air, and naval forces, each equipped with varied command systems that produce large volumes of georeferenced data. The NCOP application consolidates and analyses this information to create a single, comprehensive view of the theatre of operations, improving the effectiveness of NATO’s decision-making processes.
To meet this complex requirement, Thales has developed a secure software system that allows the operational community to access multiple Common Operational Pictures (COPs). This system integrates tactical data from diverse sources to ensure information superiority across the battlespace.
Each real-time COP includes details such as ongoing operations, the logistical and operational capabilities of friendly and opposing forces, and potential coordinated action plans. “Thales has built up a wealth of expertise in managing NATO interoperability issues since 2015, and this third contract will draw on that legacy,” added Herby.
