NATO Certification Services

Understanding NATO Certification Requirements

For military systems to participate in NATO operations, they must be certified compliant with relevant Standardization Agreements (STANAGs). This certification process verifies that equipment from different vendors and nations can successfully interoperate. STANAG 4586 certification confirms UAV control systems can operate allied drones. STANAG 5516 certification validates Link 16 tactical data link implementations. STANAG 4609 certification ensures full-motion video metadata meets alliance standards. Without proper certification, systems cannot be integrated into NATO networks—potentially sidelining entire national contingents from coalition operations. Our certification services navigate the complex testing, documentation, and approval processes required for NATO qualification.

Accredited Test Laboratory Facilities

We operate NATO-accredited test facilities equipped to validate compliance with major alliance standards. Our labs contain reference implementations of STANAG 4586 UAV control systems, Link 16 tactical data links, and STANAG 4609 metadata parsers—the 'gold standards' against which your systems are tested. Testing follows formal protocols developed by NATO working groups, ensuring consistent evaluation regardless of where testing occurs. Our test engineers hold security clearances enabling classified system evaluation. The facilities support both laboratory testing during development and field testing with operational equipment. Successful testing results in NATO certification letters required for system deployment with alliance forces.

Conformance Testing & Issue Resolution

Initial certification testing often reveals interoperability issues requiring resolution. Common problems include incorrect implementation of optional STANAG features, ambiguous specification interpretations, or software bugs affecting edge cases. Our test engineers diagnose these failures, identifying exactly which specification requirement was violated. We provide detailed technical guidance helping development teams resolve issues efficiently. Re-testing validates fixes, progressing through certification stages from basic conformance to advanced interoperability. This iterative process continues until full certification is achieved, typically requiring 3-6 months for complex systems.

Certification Maintenance & Updates

NATO standards evolve as new threats emerge and technology advances. STANAG specifications issue new editions with updated requirements—systems certified against older versions may not meet current standards. Our certification maintenance services ensure continued compliance as standards evolve. We monitor NATO working groups for specification changes affecting your systems. When updates occur, we conduct delta testing verifying continued compliance, or identify modifications required to meet new requirements. This proactive approach prevents operational disruptions when NATO mandates updated standard compliance for ongoing operations.

Certification Services Offered

• NATO-accredited test laboratories
• STANAG 4586/4609/5516 conformance testing
• Link 16/Link 22 tactical data link certification
• UAV control system interoperability testing
• Full-motion video metadata validation
• Issue diagnosis and resolution support
• Certification documentation and approval support
• Maintenance testing for standard updates