Successful communication test with Nato AGS

Nato's Allied Maritime Command is based in Northwood in the UK. Its Maritime Air Operations Team (Marair) was able to carry out a flight with the NATO Alliance Ground System (AGS) at the end of February, during which communication between the headquarters and the drone was successfully tested. The AGS was located over the central Mediterranean. A communication link was established between Northwood, Sigonella Air Base in Sicily and the NATO Air Command and Combined Air Operations Centre in Torrejon, Spain. The sensor data supplied by the AGS was then compared with the AIS situation picture in Northwood and verified. The additional data transmitted by the drone served to improve the quality of the situation picture in the region.
In future, data is to be exchanged automatically between Marair, AGS, ships and MPAs. NATO sees this form of cross-domain integration as the key to the further development of their skills.
At the beginning of February, General Tod Wolters, Supreme Allied Commander Europe, declared the remote-controlled RQ-4 ready to carry out missions. In future, the AGS will be available for a range of different missions. These include the protection of ground troops and civilians, border protection, maritime security, the fight against terrorists and assistance in humanitarian missions and natural disasters.

Text: mb; Photo: Nato