A formal approach to national CIS validation in support of NATO expeditionary forces certification T

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A formal approach to national CIS validation in
support of NATO expeditionary forces
certificationThe Interoperability
Experimentation, Testing and Validation (IETV)
capability

• Dr. Alberto Domingo
• NATO Consultation, Command and Control Agency
  (NC3A)
• alberto.domingo_at_nc3a.nato.int
• Presented by
• Dr. Hermann Wietgrefe
• NATO Consultation, Command and Control Agency
  (NC3A)
• hermann.wietgrefe_at_nc3a.nato.int

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Contents

• Introduction
• CIS Validation
• The Interoperability Experimentation, Testing and
  Validation (IETV) capability
• Using the IETV to validate nationally-provided
  CIS
• Conclusions

This work has partially been performed and funded
as part of the NC3B 2006 Programme of Work for
interoperability in NATO, which supports
progressive implementation and use of the IETV
Capability.
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Introduction

• Expeditionary operations constitute nowadays the
  paradigm of (deployed) missions in NATO. They
  require extensive Communications and Information
  Systems (CIS).
• Effective interoperability of CIS at all levels
  of command is then a key requirement to allow
  proper information sharing in the battle-space.
• Since Nations periodically rotate to fill-in NATO
  force requirements, ensuring CIS interoperability
  is a rolling and permanent effort.
• New CIS concepts and technology evolutions are
  constantly implemented, and interoperability of
  those new technologies with existing assets needs
  to be assessed.

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Force Certification and CIS Validation

• Certification is the result of a process in which
  a force formation is prepared, evaluated and
  validated by a higher headquarter in the chain of
  command. In NATO, is a pre-requisite for a Nation
  to contribute forces to a given mission.
• Validation is the act of proving that something
  is sound, and conformant to a set of needs. CIS
  validation is an essential pre-requisite for the
  force certification.
• Validation in itself is a loose term. In
  contrast, "verification" means proving that
  something is correct. Validation of complex
  capabilities (as CIS) then, should be based on
  formal verification.

More details in
NC3A TN-1127
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The CIS validation process (NC3A proposal)
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The IETV Capability

• The IETV (Interoperability Experimentation,
  Testing and Validation) is a tool in support of
  systems certification, interoperability
  enhancement and experimentation for
  multinational, NATO-led expeditionary operations.
  
• The Capability is made-up of four essential
  components
• Processes
• Supporting documentation
• A test bed
• Know-how

NC3A TN-1176
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The IETV Capability the test bed

• The IETV test bed must provide representative
  functions, interfaces, performances and
  implementation constraints associated with any
  deployed mission environment. The formal
  requirement analysis is available in NC3A
  TN-1176.
• A functional analysis has been done.
• Clustering of functions allows easy re-use of
  assets currently existing at other more
  specialized test beds and labs in NC3A, as well
  as in National test facilities.
• It also allows an easy split up of the test bed
  into a static part and a deployable footprint,
  making it a distributed capability.
• The deployable part interconnects to the static
  part in The Hague, for management and control,
  and to access the static facilities in the Hague
  or other National facilities.

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The IETV Capability the test bed
NC3A TN-1176
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The IETV Capability the process
NIE IT (NATO Interoperability information
database)
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The IETV Capability Support docs.

• Supporting documentation is needed to guide
  testing and experimentation partners during the
  process.
• Supporting documentation comprises handbooks and
  validation criteria.
• The handbooks describe NATO CIS and how NATO
  partners and other users should design and
  configure CIS systems.
• The technical criteria for CIS validation are the
  technical requirements that Nationally-provided
  Units need to meet, and the requirements for
  which verification support from the IETV is
  needed.
• The criteria mainly derive from outstanding
  Minimum Military Requirements (MMR) and
  applicable policy, but also from information
  about existing architectures and systems in NATO.

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The IETV Capability Support docs.
NC3A TN-1174
NIETI IOTRs
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CIS Verification
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CIS Verification Assessment
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CIS Verification/Validation results

• The results of the assessment campaign should be
  recorded in a standard format that addresses the
  different levels of audience.
• A report based on three parts is proposed

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Conclusions

• CIS validation needs to be a formal process.
• NATO needs a comprehensive CIS capability in
  support of formal validation of national assets,
  which also covers experimentation and
  interoperability enhancement.
• The required capability is much more than a test
  bed. Processes, procedures, tools and know-how
  need to be built around the test bed to achieve
  the required objectives.
• The IETV capability is feasible and meets the
  requirements.
• The initial (2006) phase has produced a limited
  IETV in functional scope and abilities, but
  covers all essential elements.
• The test bed should never replace, but rather
  complement, testing and validation efforts at
  NATO Exercises, or the Commanders assessment of
  the IETV validation results.

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CONTACTING NC3A