Ukraine Integrates NATO Combat Software to Coordinate Aircraft and Air Defense
Ukrainian and NATO aircraft, including F-16s and Mirage 2000s, will now be able to coordinate operations in real time through a unified digital combat management system, following Ukraine’s adoption of the System Interface of the Control and Reporting Center (CSI) — a key NATO software solution, The Gaze reports.
Deputy Defense Minister for Digitalization Kateryna Chornogorenko announced that she had signed a license agreement allowing Ukraine to implement the non-commercial NATO software CSI. The platform is a vital element of the NATO-standard Link-16 data exchange protocol, often referred to as the alliance’s “military Wi-Fi.”
“This software ensures full interoperability with NATO partners. We’re not just dreaming about joint operations with allies — we’re making them a reality,” said Chornogorenko.
The CSI software is essential for managing modern combat scenarios, enabling secure and immediate coordination between fighter aircraft, integrated air and missile defense systems like the Patriot, and command centers. Its use across most NATO countries means Ukraine will now fully integrate into the alliance’s digital battlefield environment.
The agreement was made possible through the cooperation of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, the General Staff of the Armed Forces, the Air Force, and Ukraine’s international partners, facilitated by the Government Office for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration.
Ukraine’s CSI integration comes as the country prepares to deploy Western-supplied aircraft and air defense systems on a broader scale, further solidifying defense ties with NATO in practice — even as formal membership remains pending.
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