Military Communications and Information Technology: A Trusted ...

Building a Layered Enterprise Architecture
Using COTS Products for NATO Air Command
& Control Information Services
Hasan Turksoy 1 , Mutlu Uysal 2 , Orhan Cetinkaya 2 ,
Atilla Malas 2 , Ismail Akcaoglu 1 , Yavuz Okur 2
1 STM A.S., Software Engineering Division, Ankara, Turkiye,
{hturksoy, iakcaoglu}@stm.com.tr
2 NCI Agency, Capability Development, C2 and Operations Services,
{Mutlu.Uysal, Orhan.Cetinkaya, Atilla.Malas, Yavuz.Okur}@ncia.nato.int
Abstract: The development of a Network Enabled Capability (NEC) is viewed by NATO as the most
effective way to support future operations. In the current state of art, NATO NEC (NNEC) is achieved
by integrating different systems within a layered Service Oriented Architecture (SOA). Using multi-
-layered architecture is composed of well-defined standards-based services supported or provided
by modern Commercial-off the Shelf (COTS) products. Although multiple COTS usage provides
many benefits in terms of productivity, consistency and flexibility, it also brings some challenges
such as harmonization of different COTS in a product and serving them in a layered architecture.
This paper explains the utilization of heterogeneous COTS products/applications within a layered
SOA based architecture in air command and control domain. Harvesting of COTS in multi-layered
architecture will increase the flexibility and efficiency of the system, and therefore it will help to
improve operational effectiveness in NATO.
Keywords: Air Command & Control; Layered Architecture; COTS; Service Oriented Architecture
(SOA)
I. Introduction
NATO Air Command & Control Information Services (AirC2IS) is a strategic
and operational level command and control information system which provides
an automated capability for supporting NATO operational staff to continuously
adapt to the constantly changing NATO environment and to address the security
challenges. AirC2IS will support the joint air planning, tasking, monitoring, and
analysis efforts for NATO air operations, including Tactical Ballistic Missile Defense
(TBMD) operations.
AirC2IS leverages a modern, robust, integrated and flexible Service Oriented
Architecture (SOA)-based solution. It is the first example of the NATO Network