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(ACO)
Allied Command Operations (ACO) is responsible for the planning and
execution of all Alliance operations. It consists of a small number of
permanently established headquarters, each with a specific role. The Supreme
Allied Commander, Europe - or SACEUR assumes the overall command of
operations at the strategic level and exercises his responsibilities from the
headquarters in Mons, Belgium: the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers
Europe, more commonly known as SHAPE.
Highlights
ACO, located at SHAPE in Mons, Belgium, is responsible for the planning and execution
of all NATO military operations.
The commands aim is to maintain the integrity of Alliance territory, safeguard freedom
of the seas and economic lifelines and preserve or restore the security of its members.
ACO is one of two strategic commands at the head of NATOs military command
structure.
It is headed by the Supreme Allied Commander Europe, or SACEUR, who exercises his
responsibilities from SHAPE.
ACO is one of two strategic commands at the head of NATOs military command structure; the
other is Allied Command Transformation (ACT), which as its name indicates, leads the
transformation of NATOs military structure, forces, capabilities and doctrine. Together they
form what is called the NATO Command Structure (NCS), whose function is first and foremost
to be able to address threats and should deterrence fail, an armed attack against the territory of
any of the European Allies. Ultimately, the NCS plays an essential role in preserving cohesion
and solidarity within the Alliance, maintaining and strengthening the vital transatlantic link and
promoting the principle of equitable sharing among Allies of the roles, risks and responsibilities,
as well as the benefits of collective defence.
ACO must ensure the ability to operate at three overlapping levels: strategic, operational and
tactical, with the overarching aim of maintaining the integrity of Alliance territory, safeguarding
freedom of the seas and economic lifelines, and to preserve or restore the security of NATO
member countries. Moreover, in the current security environment, deploying forces further afield
has become the norm.
Decisions to streamline NATOs military command structure were taken in June 2011 as part of a
wider process of reform. ACO was principally affected by this reform, the full implementation of
which is expected by the end of 2015, when all entities involved will reach full operational
capability.
With this reform, new tasks stemming from the 2010 Strategic Concept were included and the
Alliances level of ambition maintained. Elements of ACO will gain in flexibility and provide a
deployable Command and Control (C2) capability at the operational level, offering choices and
options for rapid intervention that have not previously been available to the Alliance. Moreover,
a Communication and Information Systems (CIS) Group has been formed as part of the military
command structure to provide additional deployable communication and information systems
support. Once fully implemented, the reform will lead to an estimated reduction in personnel of
approximately 30 per cent (from 13,000 to 8,800). The military command structure proper has
been downsized from 11 entities to seven.
Links with the NATO Force Structure will be reinforced. The Force Structure is composed of
Allied national and multinational deployable forces and headquarters placed at the Alliances
disposal by member countries on a permanent or temporary basis. National contributions are
made available for NATO operations at appropriate states of readiness when required. Rules of
deployment and transfer of authority to NATO command can vary from country to country.
1.
It is considered that whereas Article 5 applies to the entire NATO Treaty Area, the NATO Command Structures
operational area of responsibility does not include the territory of the United States or Canada. This is not meant to
imply that the NATO Command Structure should not be able to support the United States and Canada should the
territory of these two Allies be subject to an armed attack, but rather to acknowledge that defensive operations on the
territory of these two Allies will be conducted, commanded and controlled in accordance with bilateral arrangements
and not under the auspices of the NATO Command Structure.
2.
These figures cover Allied Command Operations and Allied Command Transformation.
matters and assist, for instance, with the training and preparation for future
rotations.
The two commands at this level are also responsible for engaging with key
partners and regional organisations in order to support regional NATO HQ
tasks and responsibilities, as directed by SACEUR. Additionally, they support
the reinforcement of cooperation with partners participating in NATO
operations and help to prepare partner countries for NATO membership.
Tactical level commands: Izmir, Northwood and Ramstein
Land, maritime and air commands
The tactical (or component) level consists of what is called Single Service
Commands (SSCs): land, maritime and air commands. These service-specific
commands provide expertise and support to the Joint Force Commands at the
operational level in Brunssum or Naples. They report directly to SHAPE and
come under the command of SACEUR.
Land command, Headquarters Allied Land Command (HQ LANDCOM),
Izmir, Turkey: this commands role is to provide a deployable land
command and control capability in support of a Joint Force Command
running an operation larger than a major joint operation. It can also
provide the core land capability for a joint operation (major or not) or a
deployable command and control capability for a land operation. Izmir is
also the principal land advisor for the Alliance and contributes to
development and transformation, engagement and outreach within its
area of expertise.
Maritime command, Headquarters Allied Maritime Command (HQ
MARCOM), Northwood, the United Kingdom: this commands role is to
provide command and control for the full spectrum of joint maritime
operations and tasks. From its location in Northwood, it plans, conducts
and supports joint maritime operations. It is also the Alliances principal
CAOCs: both the CAOC in Spain and in Germany are composed of two
parts. One part is a Static Air Defence Centre (SADC) responsible for air
policing and the other, a Deployable Air Operations Centre (D-AOC),
which supports operations. The D-AOC is an element focused on the
production of combat plans and the conduct of combat operations. It
has no territorial responsibilities assigned during peacetime, but
supplements the HQ AIRCOM when required.
DACCC: this entity based in Italy consists of three elements. Firstly, a
DARS or Deployable Air Control Centre + Recognized Air Picture
Production Centre + Sensor Fusion Post. The DARS is responsible for
the control of air missions including surface-to-air missiles, air traffic
management and control, area air surveillance and production of a
recognised air picture and other tactical control functions; secondly, a DAOC, which has the same role as a CAOC; and thirdly, a Deployable
Sensors Section, which provides both air defence radar and passive
electronic support measures tracker capabilities that are deployable.
Communication and information systems
Communication and information systems (CIS) have been split into two: the
deployable CIS capabilities and the static CIS capabilities.
The NATO CIS Group based in Mons, Belgium will provide deployable
communications and information systems support for ACO. The NATO CIS
Group is responsible for the provision of all deployable CIS capabilities, as
well as CIS operations and exercises planning and control. It acts as the
coordinating authority for command and control services support to
operations. The provision of the static and central CIS capabilities is the
responsibility of the NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA),
which is not part of the NATO Command Structure.
Evolution
The Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers, Europe (SHAPE) was activated on
2 April 1951, in Rocquencourt, France, as part of an effort to establish an
integrated and effective NATO military force. Allied Command, Atlantic,
headed by Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic (SACLANT) was activated a
year later, on 10 April 1952.
In 1967, after Frances withdrawal from NATOs integrated military structure,
SHAPE was relocated to Mons, Belgium.
The London Declaration of July 1990 was a decisive turning point in the
history of the Alliance and led to the adoption of the new Alliance Strategic
Concept in November 1991, reflecting a broader approach to security. This in
turn led to NATOs Long Term Study to examine the Integrated Military
Structure and put forward proposals for change to the Alliances force
structures, command structures and common infrastructure.
In essence, the Cold War command structure was reduced from 78
headquarters to 20 with two overarching Strategic Commanders (SC), one for
the Atlantic, and one for Europe; there were three Regional Commanders
under the Supreme Allied Commander, Atlantic (SACLANT) and two under the
Supreme Allied Commander, Europe (SACEUR).
During the 2002 Prague Summit, NATOs military Command Structure was
again reorganised with a focus on becoming leaner and more efficient. The
former Allied Command Europe (ACE) became the Allied Command
Operations (ACO). The Supreme Allied Commander Europe and his staff at
the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) situated in Mons,
Belgium, were henceforth responsible for all Alliance operations, including
those previously undertaken by SACLANT. The reform resulted in a significant
reduction in headquarters and Combined Air Operations Centres from 32
command centres down to 9 and reflected a fundamental shift in Alliance
thinking.
In 2010, the decision was taken to conduct a far-reaching reform of the NATO
Command Structure as part of an overall reform of NATO. The reform was
conducted with the development of the Strategic Concept 2010 firmly in mind
and has focused on ensuring that the Alliance can confront the security
challenges of the 21st century effectively and efficiently. The new Command
Structure is forward-looking and flexible, as well as leaner and more
affordable. In comparison to the previous structures, it will provide a real
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