The NATO-accredited Air Operations Centre of Excellence works to improve the effectiveness of Allied and Partner Air Operations, and supports the development of Air Operations capabilities, concepts, doctrine, and experimentation. One recent notable contribution took place in April 2024, when the Air Operations Centre of Excellence hosted the NATO Global Programming Air Operations Annual Discipline Conference in Lyon, France.
What is an Annual Discipline Conference?
The aim of the conference was to review the NATO Education and Training requirements and ensure they are aligned with appropriate training solutions. Training activities and accomplishments are reviewed from the previous year, and the coming year’s training plan is approved, along with changes and recommendations. All of these elements are compiled in the annual Discipline Alignment Plan, which is ultimately presented to Allied Command Operations’ Requirement Authority Steering Board.
The Air Operations Annual Discipline Conference
During the two-day conference held on the premises of the Air Operations Centre of Excellence, the Air Command and Control Systems and Joint Force Air Component Operations brought together members of the Global Programming governance structure, Air Operations stakeholders, and subject matters experts. Attendees represented the Joint Force Development Branch from Headquarters Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, NATO Allied Air Command, Combined Air Operations Centre Torrejon, the German Air Command and Control Systems Training Centre, the Italian Joint Air Operations School, and the NATO Communications and Information Academy.
In addition to reviewing training activities and deciding on the following year’s training plan, the conference included presentations on the ongoing implementation of Multi-Domain Operations in NATO Education & Training and a presentation from the NATO Communications and Information Academy on their training opportunities.
The 2025 Annual Discipline Conference is expected to be hosted by the Deployable Air Command and Control Centre in Poggio Renatico, Italy, and will return to Lyon at the Air Operations Centre of Excellence in 2026.
The NATO-accredited Air Operations Centre of Excellence
The Air Operations Centre of Excellence, also known as the Centre of Analysis and Simulation for the Preparation of Air Operations, is located in Lyon, France, and received its accreditation in 2008. The Centre draws on the experience and skills of its multi-national staff regarding Air Operations, technical simulations, and Air Command and Control systems to deliver training and expertise to Allied war fighters. In doing so, the Centre aims to provide NATO with primary tactical training and expertise in the Air Operations domain. It also aims to shape the future of the Air Operations domain by providing world-class education and training to joint, multi-national war fighters who plan, task, command, and control air operations.
NATO-accredited Centres of Excellence are national or multinational institutions offering specialized knowledge, experience, and education to Alliance members. Although not officially part of the NATO Command Structure, these Centres maintain a functional relationship with NATO, contributing expertise through four transformational pillars: concept development and experimentation; doctrine development and standardization; education, training, exercise, and evaluation; and analysis and lessons learned. For more information about NATO-accredited Centres of Excellence, see the 2024 Centres of Excellence Catalogue.
Amongst the four pillars a NATO Centre of Excellence is relying on, Education and Training about Air Command and Control systems and Joint Force Air Component Operations is a cornerstone for the Air Operations Centre of Excellence. In this regard, the close match between the training required for the warfighters and the courses offered by the Education & Training Facilities is paramount.
The Air Operations Annual Discipline Conference is a milestone in this journey and the Air Operations Centre of Excellence was proud to host such an event.
Colonel Fabrice Imbo, Director of the Air Operations Centre of Excellence
