NATO receives first AGS mobile exploitation station

NATO has received its first mobile and transportable ground-based exploitation station for its Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) programme, it announced on 23 March.

The first of the European-sourced Mobile General Ground Stations (MGGSs) that will provide datalink connectivity, data processing, and exploitation capabilities to multiple deployed and non-deployed operational users was delivered to the home of the AGS capability at Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella in Sicily in mid-March.

As noted by the NATO AGS Management Agency (NAGSMA) General Manager, Brigadier General Volker Samanns, this first of six MGGS units will be used for familiarisation and training.

“The MGGS aims to provide the alliance with an unprecedented capability of persistent surveillance, intelligence and reconnaissance over wide areas. The MGGS is the mobile deployable part of the AGS core, perfectly integrated into shelters and easily transportable. Its exploitation component enables the processing and management of the radar images received, whilst its communication component ensures the distribution of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance [ISR] data to forward-deployed users, regardless of location or communications infrastructure in the field.

“Radar images will be acquired by the RQ-4D Phoenix remotely piloted aircraft and received via a direct or satellite broadband connection. In addition, data from all interoperable command, control, ISR systems operated by NATO and its member states can be received and evaluated. The exploitation results will provide information about stationary and moving objects on the ground to the local unit’s commander and can be distributed as well within NATO forces,” NATO said.