RSS
Romania joins NATO's persistent surveillance from space programme
At a NATO Summit in Washington DC on Tuesday, Romania's Defence Minister Angel Tilvar on Tuesday joined other 16 NATO member states in signing a Memorandum of Understanding on the Alliance Persistent Surveillance from Space (APSS) programme.
According to the Defence Ministry (MApN), in the current security context of diverse and interconnected challenges, space technologies are essential for achieving defence objectives.
The APSS programme will provide the necessary framework for future developments in the space field to the benefit of the organisation and its member states providing a common perspective on this new operational field and an adequate response to new threats, according to MApN .
The Memorandum of Understanding establishes the necessary framework for the management and implementation of the APSS programme, in order to meet NATO's requirements and needs.
"This initiative underlines Romania's commitment to modernising and strengthening our national and collective capacities. By joining the APSS Programme, we will ensure continuous and effective surveillance from space, vital for rapid responses to new security threats. Romania is interested in participating in such projects that promote innovation and ensure access to cutting-edge technologies," said Tilvar.
The APSS programme is designed to improve and accelerate operational situational awareness and support decision-making within NATO by increasing access to data, services and space capabilities.
Officially launched in 2023, the "Alliance Persistent Surveillance from Space" initiative is intended to strengthen NATO's capabilities to collect and manage space data in an efficient and coordinated manner.
According to MApN, this innovative initiative wants to change the way NATO collects, processes and distributes intelligence, integrating advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, maintaining technological advantage and improving decision-making speed and efficiency.