Thales has been awarded a contract by NATO to deliver Phase 3 of the NATO Common Operational Picture (NCOP) programme, known as NCOP-BMD. This latest-generation situational awareness system is designed to enhance decision-making for NATO commanders by providing a unified, real-time view of operational theatres and threat environments.
The NCOP application integrates and correlates tactical data from land, air, and naval command systems to produce a single operational picture. This capability enables NATO forces to maintain information superiority and ensures coordinated planning and action during joint operations.
Thales has supported NATO’s situational awareness efforts since 2012, with Increment-1 and Increment-2 of NCOP already deployed across 30 NATO command centres. The new contract marks a continuation of this collaboration, now with added functionalities for ballistic missile defence (BMD).
According to Thales, the system will display real-time updates on ongoing operations, logistics, and operational capabilities of both friendly and opposing forces. It will also help evaluate future action plans for coordinated missions.
Gérard Herby, Vice President of Protection Systems at Thales, stated that the company’s long-standing experience with NATO interoperability challenges has enabled the delivery of advanced BMD enhancements. The system will provide secure access to multiple Common Operational Pictures (COPs), ensuring operational coordination across the alliance.