ACCS

ACCS is the NATO Air Command and Control System programme, which is intended to replace the existing air command and control systems in Europe from 2009 onwards. At the highest level it comprises the Combined Air Operations Centre (CAOC) from which the air battle is run. Beneath this level of command is the Air Control Centre (ACC), Recognised Air Picture (RAP) Production Centre (RPC) and Sensor Fusion Post (SFP). The programme comprises both static and deployable elements. Under separate funding, NATO will also procure deployable sensors for the deployable ACCS component (DAC).

Oversight of the programme is provided by the NATO ACCS Management Organisation Board of Directors, senior representatives of the Nations engaged in the NATO ACCS programme. The Board is responsible to the Secretary General of NATO for the delivery of the programme. The NACMA is responsible for the day-to-day management of the programme with scientific support from NC3A, system and software engineering support from NPC, logistic support from NAMSA and operational support from SHAPE. The contract to build ACCS was awarded to the Air Command Systems International (ACSI) consortium in November 1999. Since 2000 ACSI is part ThalesRaytheonSystems (TRS).

After years of initial cost overruns, delays and interoperability problems, NATO’s Air Command and Control System (ACCS) is entering the final stretch of software testing and validation, with national-level replication sites beginning to roll out across the alliance.

Although some data-exchange interoperability problems continue to beleaguer the system, ACCS is now scheduled to reach an initial operating capability during 2013-15, according to janes.com.

There is a paradox though that NATO ACCS, if eventual delivered, will be significantly less capable and more expensive to further evolve, than the systems it was intended to replace.

The Integrated System Support of the ACCS system when fielded will be provided by the NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency (NAMSA) supported by the NPC.