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NATO · NATO / NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA), governed by the Conference of National Armaments Directors (CNAD)

Alliance Federated Surveillance and Control

Innovation procurementDefence

About the programme

AFSC is NATO's flagship capability programme to replace the retiring AWACS fleet by 2035 with a multi-domain 'system of systems' connecting NATO-owned, multinational, and national assets across ground, air, maritime, and space domains.

  • Launched at the 2016 Warsaw Summit and originally called Alliance Future Surveillance and Control, it was renamed Alliance Federated Surveillance and Control to reflect its federated architecture.
  • The programme entered its Realization Stage in February 2026, with NSPA responsible for programme management and technical interoperability, and the NCIA providing additional technical expertise.
  • Industry engagement covers ISR and tactical control requirements, including legacy integration and new unmanned technologies.

Why it matters

AFSC is the largest and most complex capability procurement effort NATO has undertaken, offering sustained long-term contracting opportunities for defence and deep-tech companies across all 32 Allied nations.

  • Companies working in ISR, unmanned systems, space-based surveillance, AI/data fusion, cloud architectures, and C2 systems are directly in scope for national and multinational development contracts tailored to AFSC requirements.
  • Entering the Realization Stage in 2026 signals that procurement contracts for actual capability delivery—not just studies—are now on the near-term horizon.

Calls & cycles

none tracked
No call cycle on record. Check the official programme page.

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