STANAG
STANAG is the NATO abbreviation for Standardization Agreement, which set up processes, procedures, terms, and conditions for common military or technical procedures or equipment between the member countries of the alliance. Each NATO state ratifies a STANAG and implements it within their own military. The purpose is to provide common operational and administrative procedures and logistics, so one member nation's military may use the stores and support of another member's military. STANAGs also form the basis for technical interoperability between a wide variety of communication and information (CIS) systems essential for NATO and Allied operations.
STANAGs are published in English and French, the two official languages of NATO, by the NATO Standardization Agency in Brussels.
Among the hundreds of standardization agreements (current total is just short of 1300) are those for calibres of small arms ammunition, map markings, communications procedures, and classification of bridges.
Partial list
The following is just a few examples of various STANAGs. A complete list (of the unclassified ones, anyway) can be obtained at this link.
- STANAG 2097 (Edition 6): Nomenclature and Classification of Equipment
- STANAG 2310 7.62x51mm NATO adopted in the 1950s as the standard infantry rifle cartridge up until the 1980s
- STANAG 2324 The adoption of the US MIL-STD-1913 "Picatinny rail" as the NATO standard optical and electronic sight mount and standard accessory rail
- STANAG 2920 The adoption of standards for ballistic protection levels and testing
- STANAG 3680 AAP-6 NATO Glossary of Terms and Definitions
- STANAG 4172 The adoption of the 5.56x45mm NATO round as the standard chambering of all NATO assault rifles
- STANAG 4179 The adoption of the M16 style magazine well as the standard 5.56 NATO magazine interface. All magazines and drums, regardless of design, must be compatible with the magazine well in order to be compliant.
