STANAG

STANAG stands for Standardization Agreement, a formal NATO mechanism to establish common standards and procedures to ensure interoperability among allied armed forces. STANAGs are produced and maintained by NATO member states through the alliance's standardization process, with coordination by the NATO Standardization Office and related working groups.

The scope of STANAGs is broad, covering technical specifications for weapons and ammunition, communications and data systems, logistics, medical procedures, training, and procedures for joint operations across air, land, and sea domains. They may specify dimensional tolerances, data formats, communication protocols, or procedural steps to be followed in multinational operations.

Adoption is voluntary for member states but typically expected for coalition operations. STANAGs are not laws, but they become binding in practice when national defense ministries implement them through procurement, training, and interoperability testing. Non-NATO partner nations may adopt STANAGs to improve compatibility and participate more effectively in joint activities.

Each STANAG is identified by a unique number and title. The documents range from high-level guidelines to detailed technical specifications and are regularly updated or replaced as technology and tactics evolve. STANAGs help enable multinational exercises, joint missions, and common logistics across allied forces, supporting clearer communication, shared procedures, and compatible equipment in coalition operations.