VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA. NATO Allied Command Transformation hosted the first ever iO360 Workshop, a highly focused 3-day Interoperability Workshop, in Virginia Beach, Virginia. This new and experimental event, which leveraged the collective ingenuity of the Think-Thank for Information Decision and Execution (TIDE) Community, sought to adapt and accelerate toward NATO 2030 with Joint Effects Synchronization Targeting and Fires as a lens through which we will examine interoperability gaps and challenges.
In an era defined by rapidly evolving technological landscapes and the need for military agility, NATO has embarked on a visionary journey towards 2030, one that necessitates a paradigm shift in its operational strategies. In his opening remarks, General Philippe Lavigne, Supreme Allied Commander Transformation shared that “embracing data-centricity, and moving to a modular and agile approach to federate our C4ISR (command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) capabilities are more important than ever if we are to implement tomorrow’s Multi-Domain Operations. iO360 is a first step to define a new direction for federated interoperability and adjust our current course to Multi-Domain Operations and Digital Transformation. Until now, we connected the past. Now we connect the future.”
As General Lavigne articulated, the core of this transformation is the convergence of Multi-Domain Operations and Digital Transformation, aimed at delivering data-driven decision-making with unprecedented speed and precision. This imperative seeks to provide NATO commanders with a 360-degree situational awareness and the ability to make better decisions faster, enhancing the Alliance’s capabilities in an ever-changing global security landscape.
The NATO 2030 initiative is nothing short of ambitious. It requires all stakeholders to re-evaluate their roles in shaping a digitally-ready, Multi-Domain Operations-enabled Alliance that can cater to the needs of the modern war fighter. It challenges the status quo and demands that traditional approaches be reconsidered. Now is the time to seek and exploit opportunities to do things differently. Assistant Chief of Staff for Requirements, Brigadier General Thorsten Jorgensen, who acted as principal host for this workshop, asserted that “by breaking out of the ‘business-as-usual’ mold, iO360 has helped us to identify what we need to do differently in order to meet the ambitious targets set by our nations and the NATO 2030 agenda.”
The iO360 Workshop brought together participants who worked to identify opportunities to align Federated Mission Networking with Digital Transformation and Multi-Domain Operations, two of Allied Command Transformation’s strategic priorities.
Attendees had a deep understanding of the subjects of interest, had an organizational affiliation to NATO, industry or government, or had substantial experience with Joint Effects Synchronization and Targeting Fires. Over the course of three days, participants engaged in focused discussions to identify concrete actions and near-term opportunities that could shape Allied Command Transformation’s interoperability events and activities moving forward.
Federated Interoperability lies at the heart of this transformation. It serves as the bedrock for commanding and controlling Alliance capabilities during NATO missions. It requires the nations’ militaries to have the capability to exchange and share data instantaneously, in the right format, at the right time, and to the right decision-maker. Achieving federated interoperability is the bridge that connects Multi-Domain Operations and Digital Transformation, enabling data-driven decision-making and a more responsive NATO.
The inaugural iO360 Workshop represents a significant step in NATO’s journey towards 2030. It signifies the Alliance’s commitment to embracing change, fostering innovation, and creating a future where Multi-Domain Operations, Digital Transformation, and federated interoperability are not just buzzwords but practical tools to meet the ever-evolving challenges of global security. The success of this initiative hinges on the collaborative efforts of experts and stakeholders willing to adapt to novel approaches that can shape tomorrow’s solutions.
Detailed workshop outcomes and recommendations will be made available for consideration by members of the NATO interoperability (TIDE) community. Please contact Ms Fiona Tomlin for additional information.
