Standardization agreement explained

In NATO, a standardization agreement (STANAG, redundantly: STANAG agreement) defines processes, procedures, terms, and conditions for common military or technical procedures or equipment between the member countries of the alliance. Each NATO state ratifies a STANAG and implements it within its own military. The purpose is to provide common operational and administrative procedures and logistics, so one member nation's military may use the stores and support of another member's military.STANAGs also form the basis for technical interoperability between a wide variety of communication and information systems (CIS) essential for NATO and Allied operations.[1] The Allied Data Publication 34 (ADatP-34) NATO Interoperability Standards and Profiles which is covered by STANAG 5524, maintains a catalogue of relevant information and communication technology standards.

STANAGs are published in English and French, the two official languages of NATO, by the NATO Standardization Office in Brussels.

Among the hundreds of standardization agreements (the total was just short of 1,300) are those for calibres of small arms ammunition, map markings, communications procedures, and classification of bridges.

Partial list

1000s

: (Edition 9, 24 August 2004): Characteristics of Shipboard Electrical Power Systems in Warships of the North Atlantic Treaty Navies
  • : (Edition 6): Combat Charts, Amphibious Charts and Combat/Landing Charts
  • : (Edition 17, 24 May 2005): Allied Naval Gunfire Support (ATP-4(E))
  • : (Edition 23, 16 December 2004): Naval Cooperation and Guidance for Shipping (NCAGS) (ATP-2(B) Vol. 1)
  • : (Edition 16, 29 March 2001): Anti-Submarine Evasive Steering (ATP-3(B))
  • : (Edition 32, 12 July 2006): Allied Submarine and Anti-Submarine Exercise Manual (AXP-01(D))
  • STANAG 1059: (Edition 8, 19 February 2004): National Distinguishing Letters for Use by NATO Armed Forces
  • : (Edition 18): Allied Naval Communications Exercises (AXP-3(C) MXP-3(C))
  • STANAG 1236: (Edition 3, 2 November 2010): Glide Slope Indicators for Helicopter Operations from NATO Ships
  • : HOSTAC Ship Helicopter Operating Limits (SHOL)
  • STANAG 1472: (Edition 1, 7 September 2011): NVD Compatible Flight Deck Status Displays on Single Ships
  • 2000s

    : (Edition 6): Patrol Reports
  • : (Edition 7): Operations Plans, Warning Orders, and Administrative/Logistics Orders
  • : (Edition 6, 24 May 2011): NATO Joint Military Symbology – NATO Military Symbols for Land Based Systems (APP-6)
  • : Military Load Classification of Bridges, Rafts and Vehicles
  • : Intelligence Reports
  • : Interrogation of Prisoners of War (PW)
  • : (Edition 4): Operations Orders, Tables and Graphics for Road Movement
  • : (Edition 5): Procedures for Dealing with Prisoners of War
  • : Radiological Hazards
  • : (Edition 5): Handling and Reporting of Captured Enemy Equipment and Documents
  • : NATO Combined Military Police[2]
  • : Medical Employment of Air Transport in the Forward Area
  • : (Edition 6): Nomenclature and Classification of Equipment
  • : – this STANAG covers, among other subjects, NATO official rank grade comparisons covering Ranks and insignia of NATO
  • : (Edition 4, May 1996): Troop trial Principles and Procedures – Combat Clothing and Personal Equipment
  • : (Edition 4): Explosive Ordnance Reconnaissance/Explosive Ordnance Disposal
  • : (Edition 3): Intelligence Request
  • : Regulations for Military Motor Vehicle Movement by Road
  • : (Edition 3): Classification and Designation of Flat Wagons Suitable for Transporting Military Equipment
  • : 7.62×51mm NATO adopted in the 1953 as the sole standard infantry rifle cartridge (7.62x51mm) up until STANAG 4172 in 1980.[3]
  • : The adoption of the US MIL-STD-1913 "Picatinny rail" as the NATO standard optical and electronic sight mount and standard accessory rail (canceled). See also 4694.
  • : (Edition 3, 13 February 2003): Evaluation and control of personnel exposure to radio frequency fields – 3 kHz to 300 GHz
  • : (Edition 1): Minimum Standards of Proficiency for Trained Explosive Ordnance Disposal Personnel
  • : (Draft): Joint Anti-Armor Operations
  • : Civil-military co-operation (CIMIC) doctrine
  • : (published Jan 2005): The military intelligence intelligence data
  • STANAG 2437: Allied Joint Publication AJP-01: "ALLIED JOINT DOCTRINE"
  • : Allied Joint Doctrine for Communications and Information Systems
  • : (Edition 3, 14 Aug 1992): Braking Systems Between Tractors, Draw Bar Trailer And Semi-trailer Equipment Combinations For Military Use
  • : Fording and Flotation Requirements for Combat and Support Ground Vehicles
  • : (Edition 2): Restrictions for the Transport of Military Equipment by Rail on European Railways
  • : (Edition 2): The Operation of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technical Information Center (EODTIC)
  • : Medical Effects of Ionizing Radiation on Personnel
  • : (Edition 4): Land Force Tactical Doctrine (ATP-35(A))
  • : Medical Support Operations in an NBC Environment
  • : (Edition 3): Marking of Hazardous Areas and Routes Through Them
  • : Extreme Climatic Conditions and Derived Conditions for Use in Defining Design/Test Criteria for NATO Forces Materiel
  • : The adoption of standards for ballistic protection levels and testing
  • : Distinctive Markings and Camouflage of Medical Facilities and Evacuation Platforms[4]
  • : Survival, Emergency, and Individual Combat Rations – nutritional values and packaging
  • : Classes of Supply of NATO Land Forces
  • : Graduated Levels of Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Threats and Associated Protective Measures
  • : (Edition 1): Use of Helicopters in Land Operations (ATP-49)
  • 3000s

    : Joint Range Extension Applications Protocol (JREAP), a Tactical Data Link (TDL) protocol
  • : Aircraft Marshalling Signals
  • : Uniform System of Supply Classification
  • : Uniform System of Item of Supply Identification
  • : (Edition 6): Air Reconnaissance Request/Task Form
  • STANAG 3350: Analogue Video Standard for Aircraft System Applications
  • : Air Reconnaissance Intelligence Report Forms
  • : (Edition 1): Aeromedical Training of Aircrew in Aircrew NBC Equipment and Procedures
  • : (Edition 6): 20x102mm autocannon ammunition
  • : Air Reconnaissance Requesting and Target Reporting Guide
  • : NATO Glossary of Terms and Definitions
  • : (Edition 4): NATO Tactical Air Doctrine (ATP-33(B))
  • : (Edition 8): Offensive Air Support Operations (ATP-27(B))
  • : (27 Apr 2009) Minimum Qualifications for Forward Air Controllers & Laser Operators in Support of Forward Air Controllers[5]
  • : (Edition 4): Doctrine and Procedures for Airspace Control in Time of Crisis and War (ATP-40(A))
  • : (Edition 3): 27×145mm autocannon ammunition
  • : MIL-STD-1553, mechanical, electrical and functional characteristics of a serial data bus
  • : (Edition 2): Counter Air Operations (ATP-42(B))
  • STANAG 3910: High Speed Data Transmission Under STANAG 3838 or Fibre Optic Equivalent Control – 1 Mbit/sec MIL-STD-1553B data bus augmented by a 20 Mbit/s, Optical or Electrical, High Speed (HS) channel. Revised by prEN 3910, which remains provisional.[6] Optical version implemented (as EFAbus) on the Eurofighter Typhoon (EF2000)) and electrical (as EN 3910) on Dassault Rafale.
  • 4000s

    STANAG 4007: (Edition 2, 31 May 1996): Electrical Connectors Between Prime Movers, Trailers And Towed Artillery
  • : Emergency Towing Facilities
  • : 2-pin 24V jump-start connectors. Heavy duty plugs and sockets for jump-starting military vehicles with up to 1000A
  • STANAG 4082: (Edition 2, 28 May 1969): Adoption of a Standard Artillery Computer Meteorological Message (METCM)
  • : 9×19mm NATO adopted as standard small arms ammunition (9 mm)
  • : (Edition 2, 21 Feb 2000): Towing Attachments
  • : (Edition 7, August 2006): Mutual Acceptance of Government Quality Assurance and Usage of the Allied Quality Assurance Publications
  • STANAG 4140: (Edition 2, 28 May 2001): Adoption of a Standard Target Acquisition Meteorological Message (METTA)
  • STANAG 4119: (Edition 2, 5 February 2007): Adoption of a Standard Cannon Artillery Firing Table Format)
  • : The adoption of the 5.56×45mm NATO round as the standard chambering of all NATO service rifles in 1980.[7] [8]
  • : 25x137mm autocannon ammunition
  • : (Edition 3, 27 November 1998): Microwave Landing System (MLS)
  • : Technical standards for single channel HF radio equipment
  • : (Edition 1, 14 March 1990): Standard Specification for Digital Representation of Shipboard Data Parameters
  • : Digital Interoperability Between SHF Tactical Satellite Communications Terminals
  • : Digital interoperability between EHF Tactical Satellite Communications Terminals
  • : Characteristics of 1200/2400/3600 bit/s single tone MODEMs for HF radio links
  • STANAG 4355: (Edition 3, 17 April 2009): Modified Point Mass Trajectory Model
  • : Environmental Testing
  • : (Edition 1, 8 July 1994): Blackout Lighting Systems For Tactical Land Vehicles
  • : 12.7×99mm NATO adopted as standard small arms ammunition (12.7mm)
  • : 120 mm ammunition for smoothbore tank guns
  • : (Edition 2, 10 May 2001): Connector For Tactical Land Wheeled Vehicles With Anti Lock Braking Systems
  • : The adoption of a military message standard based around the civil X.400 standard[9]
  • : Display Symbology and Colors for NATO Maritime Units
  • : A way to determine interchangeability of indirect fire ammunition; lists various artillery calibers, including 105 mm and 155 mm
  • : 105 mm ammunition for rifled tank guns
  • : Technical performance specification providing for the interchangeability of 5.7×28mm ammunition[10]
  • : mentioned in conjunction with 35 mm x 228 KDG ammunition[11]
  • : Explosives, Physical/Mechanical Properties, Thermomechanical Analysis for Determining the Coefficient of Linear Thermal Expansion (TMA)
  • : Characteristics of single tone MODEMs for HF radio links with 1240 Hz bandwidth
  • : (Edition 2, 6 May 2013): NATO Secondary Imagery Format (NSIF)
  • : (Edition 3, Amendment 2, 3 August 2016): NATO Standard Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance Library Interface (NSILI)
  • : (Edition 1, 25 October 2007): Warship Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (WECDIS)
  • : (Edition 1, 26 September 2003): Airborne Multi-Mode Receiver for Precision Approach and Landing
  • STANAG 4569: Protection levels for Occupants of Logistic and Light Armoured Vehicles[12]
  • : (Edition 4, 2 December 2014): NATO Advanced Data Storage Interface (NADSI)
  • : The adoption of standard Identification of Friend or Foe hardware that can be recognized and processed between all NATO nations
  • STANAG 4586: Standard Interface of the Unmanned Control System (UCS) for NATO UAV interoperability
  • : Modelling and Simulation Architecture Standards for Technical Interoperability: High Level Architecture (HLA)
  • : (Edition 4, 29 January 2021): Super High Frequency (SHF) MILitary SATellite COMmunications (MILSATCOM) EPM (Electronically Protected Measures) Waveform for Class B services
  • STANAG 4607: (Edition 3, 14 September 2010): NATO Ground Moving Target Indicator Format (GMTIF)
  • : (Edition 4, 19 December 2016): NATO Digital Motion Imagery Standard
  • : 30x173mm autocannon ammunition
  • STANAG 4626: Modular and Open Avionics Architectures – Part I – Architecture
  • : (Edition 1, 16 March 2011): Controller Area Network (Can) Protocols For Military Applications
  • : (Edition 1, 20 May 2014): NATO Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance Tracking Standard (NITS)
  • STANAG 4694: NATO Accessory Rail
  • : UAV[13]
  • : NATO requirements for calibration support of test & measurement equipment
  • : JANUS, used for underwater acoustic communication
  • : NATO Generic Vehicle Architecture (NGVA) for Land Systems
  • : Confidentiality Label Syntax
  • : Metadata Binding Mechanism
  • 5000s

    STANAG 5066: The adoption of a Profile for HF Data Communications, supporting Selective Repeat ARQ error control, HF E-Mail and IP-over-HF operation
  • STANAG 5516: Link 16 – ECM Resistant Tactical Data Exchange, a Tactical Data Link (TDL) protocol
  • STANAG 5518: Joint Range Extension Applications Protocol (JREAP), a Tactical Data Link (TDL) protocol
  • STANAG 5524: NATO Interoperability Standards and Profiles, a catalogue of relevant information and communication technology standards
  • STANAG 5602: Standard Interface for Military Platform Link Evaluation (SIMPLE), a Tactical Data Link (TDL) protocol
  • 6000s

    : (Edition 4, 12 October 2010) Language Proficiency Levels
  • : Meaconing, Intrusion, Jamming, and Interference Report
  • : EW in the Land Battle (ATP-51)
  • STANAG 6022: (Edition 2, 22 March 2010): Adoption of a Standard Gridded Data Meteorological Message (METGM)
  • 7000s

    : (Edition 4, Amendment 1, 16 June 2016): NATO Primary Image Format (NPIF)
  • : (Edition 2, 2 August 2001): Imagery Air Reconnaissance Tape Recorder Standard
  • STANAG 7074: Digital Geographic Exchange Standard (DIGEST),
  • : (Edition 4, 20 December 2006): Joint NATO Doctrine for environmental protection during NATO-led military activities
  • : (Edition 2, 5 November 2010): Additional Military Layers (AML) – Digital geospatial data products
  • Drafts

    STANAG 4179: A type of detachable firearm magazine proposed for standardization based on the USGI M16 rifle magazine.[14]
  • STANAG 4181: A type of stripper clip and guide tool use to load magazines proposed for standardization based on the USGI M16 rifle stripper clips and guide tools.
  • References

    1. Royal Air Force Common Core and Deployment Skills Aide-Memoire AP 3242B VOL 5, ABBREVIATIONS
    2. Web site: NATO - STANAG 2085 - NATO Combined Military Police | Engineering360.
    3. "NATO Small Arms Ammunition Interchangeability via Direct Evidence Testing ", US Army RDECOM, 25 May 2011
    4. US Army Field Manual 4-02.21. Division and Brigade Surgeon's Handbook. Appendix A, Guide for Geneva Conventions Compliance.
    5. Web site: NATO STANAG 3797 MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS FOR FORWARD AIR CONTROLLERS & LASER OPERATORS IN SUPPORT OF FORWARD AIR CONTROLLERS – IHS, Inc. 2009-08-29. 2017-12-16. bot: unknown. https://web.archive.org/web/20090829190451/http://aero-defense.ihs.com/document/abstract/FJYQJBAAAAAAAAAA. 2009-08-29.
    6. AECMA Working Group C2-GT9, High Speed Data Transmission Under STANAG 3838 or Fibre Optic Equivalent Control, prEN3910-001, Ed P1, ASD-STAN, 1/31/1996.
    7. Web site: STANAG 4172 (Edition 2) 5.56 mm Ammunition (Linked or Otherwise) 5 May 1993 . 25 January 2019 . 25 January 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190125183425/http://www.skytterlag2.no/filestore/Skytterlag/klepp-filarkiv/Div/556x45NATO.pdf . dead .
    8. https://s3-mittlag-prod.cmd.as/production/uploads/attachment/file/16294/556x45NATO.pdf STANAG 4172 (Edition 2) 5.56 mm AMMUNITION (LINKED OR OTHERWISE) 5 May 1993
    9. Web site: external 4406 reference. 2013-01-22. 2010-11-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20101126124326/http://nexor.com/standards/stanag. dead.
    10. Web site: NATO – STANAG 4509 TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATION PROVIDING FOR THE INTERCHANGEABILITY OF 5.7 mm x 28 AMMUNITION. 4 December 2020. globalspec.com.
    11. News: Rheinmetall's family of medium calibre cannons . 5 August 2022 . Rheinmetall.
    12. http://www.ballistics.com.au/technical/ballisticandstabstandards.php#stanag CRAIG International Ballistics – NIJ EN STANAG Ballistic Standards
    13. News: Primoco One 150M UAV moves closer to NATO STANAG certification .
    14. "NATO Infantry Weapons Standardization ", NDIA Conference 2008

    External links