Open and common standards are essential enablers for simulation interoperability and re-use. This includes technical architecture standards, data interchange standards and best practices.
Not all existing M&S standards of interest to NATO and partners are covered by NATO STANAGs or STANRECs. A Standards Profile of both existing and emerging standards provides the community a more comprehensive overview of the state of M&S standards in NATO.
The NATO Modelling and Simulation Standards Profile (NMSSP) serve as an authoritative reference for NATO and nations on Modelling and Simulation (M&S) standardization products and their applications. The NMSSP provides guidance on selection and use of standards to promote interoperability, best practice and reuse in the M&S domain. The NMSSP is intended to address and support in particular, the establishment of a common technical framework to foster interoperability and reuse as defined in the NATO M&S Master Plan.
The NMSSP complements and is correlated with NATO AdatP-34 NATO Interoperability Standards and Profiles (NISP) and is maintained by the NMSG Modelling & Simulation Standards Subgroup (MS3).
Standards and products included in the Profile are not formally mandated by NATO, unless they are supported by a specific NATO Standardization Agreement (STANAG).