NATO looks for answers to overcome standards hurdles and improve procurement

NATO's Federated Unified Sensing and Effects demonstration in late October examined whether artificial intelligence could connect different command-and-control systems and accelerate procurement and interoperability. The event combined crewed and uncrewed equipment with national C2 systems, placing them with allied users for evaluation and subsequent feedback to participating companies. A central objective was building a common operational picture across national systems, including the DiBaX segment, while exploring alternatives to lengthy standardization processes. Officials presented AI-enabled integration as a possible way to reduce reliance on new NATO Standardisation Agreements, rather than announcing that established standards had been replaced.