MoA Covers Comms, ISR Equipment, Information Sharing
NATO’s Communications and Information Agency (NCI Agency) has signed a renewed Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with Ukraine to continue co-operation across a wide range of C4ISR areas.
The agreement, signed in Brussels on 17 January, comes at a time of unprecedentedly high tensions between Ukraine and Russia. Neither the NCI Agency nor the Ukrainian government acknowledged this context in a statement publicising the agreement. Instead, both sides stressed the long-established working relationship that exists between them.
“We have successfully worked with Ukraine for several years, delivering key capabilities and exchanging knowledge,” NCI Agency General Manager Ludwig Decamps stated. “Under this renewed agreement, we will deepen our collaboration with Ukraine to support them in modernising their information technology and communications services, while identifying areas where training may be required for their personnel. Our experts stand ready to continue this critical partnership.”
“The Memorandum signed today continues our cooperation established in 2015,” said Ambassador Natalia Galibarenko, Head of Ukraine’s mission to NATO. “With NATO’s support we plan to further introduce modern information technologies and services into the command and control system of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.”
NATO and Ukraine have had bilateral relations since the early 1990s, and, although not a member, Ukraine has taken part in a number of NATO-led operations and missions. A formal agreement between the NCI Agency and Ukraine was inked in 2015 and saw the Agency “supporting Ukraine on technology matters, primarily through the NATO Ukraine Command, Control, Communication and Computers Trust Fund,” according to the Agency.
The Fund is led by Canada, Germany and the UK, with contributions from Denmark, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Turkey and the USA. It “assists Ukraine in modernising its C4 structures and capabilities by enhancing Ukraine’s ability to provide for its own security,” NATO says. The projects it was, at that time, assisting with include providing secure tactical HF radio equipment and Iridium satcoms; Regional Airspace Security Programme (RASP), co-ordinating cross-border air-security incident response and regional co-operation; and assessing future collaborations based on an assessment of potential ‘fast-win’ projects. In 2016,the fund had an annual budget of €2.41million ($2.75million).
The new statement confirms that RASP achieved an initial operating capability in 2020, and further training was provided to operators in 2021. The new secure communications equipment was delivered in December 2018 and is still in use. The ongoing collaboration now also includes a Knowledge Sharing Initiative, in which NCI Agency subject-matter experts “share their knowledge of NATO practices in developing [C4] capabilities.”