The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato) Ground-Based Air Defence (GBAD) project is a multi-national initiative to develop very short to medium-range GBAD capabilities to counter a variety of air and missile threats.
The project is classified as a Nato High Visibility Project (HVP), known as the Modular GBAD project. It is led by the Nato Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) on behalf of participating Nato nations.
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The Modular GBAD project is one of 27 such HVPs designed to bolster operational effectiveness, cost efficiency, and connectivity among Nato Allies and partners. It is currently in the concept stage valued at €20m ($21.4m).
The NSPA issued its inaugural request for proposal (RFP) for the project in November 2024 and subsequently held the first bidders’ conference later that month.
This event allowed potential vendors to understand the project’s scope, the RFP’s evaluation methodology, and the overall approach to the Modular GBAD concept stage.
Companies submitted their proposals in January 2025.
The procurement and development of the modular solution is expected to commence in 2026.
Modular GBAD project details
The Modular GBAD HVP is being designed with a focus on modularity, centred around a common fire distribution centre.
Fire distribution centres are integral to air defence management solutions, enabling the sharing of real-time, live data across various command and control units within a network, thus maintaining a unified and correlated air picture for all users.
The project is being designed around a command and control (C2) infrastructure that serves as the foundation and allows for the customisation of GBAD force packages to meet the specific needs of individual operations.
The design aims to enhance the operational adaptability and scalability of ground-based air defence systems, as well as to improve interoperability among allied forces.
Modular GBAD project development details
In 2018, the Allied National Armaments Directors initiated a structured approach to enhance multinational cooperation within the Conference of National Armaments Directors (CNAD), resulting in the CNAD Level 3 (CNAD3) work strand.
This approach was first tested in 2019 with a pilot case focusing on cooperation in GBAD capabilities, particularly in the development and procurement of short to medium-range systems.
In October 2020, defence ministers from ten Nato countries, including Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain, and the UK, signed a letter of intent to launch the modular GBAD HVP.
This group began crafting a set of common requirements and a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to legally underpin the development and procurement of the modular GBAD capability.
Another area of cooperation explored was the acquisition of a C2 capability for air and missile defence at the battalion and brigade levels.
In October 2021, Denmark, Italy, Portugal, Spain, the UK, and the US signed a letter of intent for the multinational C2 capability for surface-based air and missile defence for the battalion and brigade level (GBAD C2 Layer) HVP.
This initiative aims to standardise air defence management across Nato, enhancing interoperability and resilience by reducing the variety of systems in use.
By April 2022, France joined the GBAD project. Currently, 15 nations including Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, the UK, and the US are participating in the project.
Modular GBAD concept stage details
In February 2023, a MOU was signed by ten Nato Allies, including Denmark, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain, and the UK, to advance Modular GBAD, creating a legal framework for its potential future development.
The agreement also encompasses a joint concept stage for both the Modular GBAD and the Counter-Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar (C-RAM) HVP systems to assess the feasibility of integrating C-RAM as a module within the Modular GBAD system.
In June 2023, the NSPA established the Modular GBAD Support Partnership to facilitate the participating nations’ efforts to define, design, and develop a next-generation Modular GBAD System of Systems. The partnership also provides a legal framework for the multinational acquisition of GBAD systems.
The procurement strategy for the Modular GBAD project is being executed in two distinct phases, the first phase involves an initial assessment to identify up to five eligible bidders. The selected contractors will be tasked with producing Concept Study #1 for the initial identification of designs and architectures for the Modular GBAD.
In the second phase, following further scrutiny, the competition will be narrowed down to two contractors. These finalists will be responsible for furthering the Modular GBAD concept stage by providing additional studies and technical services in alignment with their proposed system architectures.
GBAD C2 module details
The GBAD C2 Layer HVP aims at developing an air defence management solution for battalion and brigade levels. It is designed to integrate multiple GBAD assets using an open-architecture system to ensure interoperability and connectivity.
The system will function as a high-echelon GBAD component, aiding military decision-making and facilitating the integration of multinational GBAD forces into a comprehensive air defence strategy.
It will employ a layered defence approach, interlinking various standalone systems equipped with effectors and sensors to counter a range of threats, including drones, cruise missiles, and aircraft. This method enhances the effectiveness of defence capabilities by aligning specific solutions with particular threat scenarios, resulting in a more efficient defence structure.
Rapidly Deployable Mobile C-RAM project details
The Rapidly Deployable Mobile C-RAM project is part of the broader Modular GBAD project and is currently in the concept stage.
This initiative focuses on the development and acquisition of a mobile system capable of detecting and neutralising airborne threats before impact.
The C-RAM system will integrate various components that facilitate the detection, warning, response, interception, control, and protection of military forces. Upon threat detection, the system autonomously performs functions from tracking to engagement and post-engagement damage assessment.
While traditional systems utilise explosive munitions, newer laser-based technologies are being implemented, offering benefits such as lower cost per interception, extended range, and faster response times.
