The NATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization ISRIntelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Force (NISRFNATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Force) in Sigonella – A Unique Reconnaissance Unit

The NISRFNATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Force's coat of arms prominently displays the Latin motto Videmus Omnia – We See Everything. This is made possible by using high-tech unmanned aircraft and intelligence data from across NATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization. From Sicily, the multinational force keeps a constant eye on NATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization's borders. A decisive advantage to maintain the Alliance's defence capability.

The mission of the NISRFNATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Force is all in its name. NISRFNATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Force stands for NATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Force, and is designed to perform military intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance tasks. Every day, the NISRFNATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Force conducts operations within this task spectrum for the benefit of all member states of the Alliance, directly tasked by NATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEURSupreme Allied Commander Europe ).

Technology at its heart: The “Phoenix” remotely piloted aircraft

The flagship, and an essential tool, of the NATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization ISRIntelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Force is the RQ-4D “Phoenix”, a long-range unmanned aircraft equipped with state-of-the-art sensors. It can fly above general commercial air traffic for many hours, and provides near real-time radar imagery, regardless of weather or time of day.

Sicily is an ideal location for reconnaissance aircraft: The climate offers favourable weather conditions for flights almost all year round. Add to that the enormous range of the “Phoenix”: With an endurance of up to 30 hours and an operational altitude of approximately 15 kilometres, it can reach virtually any point on the Alliance territory’s periphery from the Italian island.

Data sheet: RQ-4D Phoenix

The “Phoenix” remotely piloted aircraft fly into areas where NATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization needs to know what is going on. Even though details are classified, it is known that many flights are headed for the periphery of Alliance territory to gather information such as Russian troop movements as early as possible.

What are the advantages of the “Phoenix” compared to satellites?

Satellites fly in fixed orbits around Earth. Most of them pass over the same location only every few days. On top of that, they rely on daylight unless they are equipped with radar technology. The presence of clouds, or the lack of light, negatively affect the operation of such systems. This means that the success of reconnaissance depends on whether the right satellite is above the right place at the right time. However, reconnaissance aircraft equipped with radar technology, such as the RQ-4D “Phoenix”, are flexible and independent of weather or light conditions. The aircraft can be quickly flown into a specific area where it is needed. If the crew observe anything interesting, they simply let the “Phoenix” move in circles over the area concerned. Airborne radar reconnaissance is the means of choice when it comes to dealing with an impending crisis.

The data collected by the “Phoenix” are analysed in Sigonella while it is still in flight. Multinational teams of analysts use these data to compile operational pictures that are directly fed into NATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization’s decision-making processes.

The NISRFNATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Force as an Early Warning and Coordination Centre

The “Phoenix” is the NISRFNATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Force’s most visible symbol, but the largest share of the work is done by military personnel who have little to do with actual flight operations. The analysts in Sigonella not only process the data from their own UAVs, but also pool information from across NATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization: Satellite imagery, intelligence reports, open media and Internet sources, and input from other technical reconnaissance systems.

All this information is merged and evaluated to develop what is referred to as “intelligence products” in Sigonella. Unlike mere reconnaissance results, these secret documents contain not only observations, but also how to interpret them, and pertinent conclusions. Often, they even provide forecasts, a feature that is particularly valuable to political and military decision-makers.

This is made possible by the continuity of observation and the many data sources the NISRFNATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Force can incorporate into its analyses. If, for example, the staff receive a satellite image, they can have this snapshot confirmed by real-time data from the “Phoenix” remotely piloted aircraft. A social media posting may be another piece of the puzzle when making an analysis.

The NISRFNATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Force plays a major role when it comes to early warning: By identifying movements, patterns, or developments early in the game, the Alliance can respond quickly before a crisis escalates.

In addition, the force has an important management task to accomplish. One of the NISRFNATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Force divisions coordinates the allocation of tasks to different NATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization partner nation reconnaissance units – and determines which tasks must be performed by the NISRFNATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Force UAVs themselves. In this way, three partners do not observe the same area at the same time, and existing resources can be used efficiently. This shows, even if there is no “Phoenix” in the air, the NISRFNATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Force makes an indispensable contribution to Germany’s and NATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization’s security.

The Bundeswehr provides a quarter of the early warning personnel

The Bundeswehr is the second largest troop-contributing nation to NISRFNATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Force, making it an integral part of the force, which celebrates its tenth anniversary this year. More than 120 soldiers from Germany are part of the multinational unit, which counts a total of about 460 members in 2025. Overall, servicemembers from 24 NATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization member states are represented in Sigonella – a clear sign of the strong backing of the Alliance.

For the Commander, NATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Force (NISRFNATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Force), U.S. Brigadier General John B. Creel, multinationality is a key factor for success: "This is not just cooperation on paper. It is real cooperation – day in, day out, shoulder to shoulder."

Ensuring defence capability by providing homogeneous and consistent reconnaissance

The NISRFNATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Force does its work in the background, hidden from the majority of the population, but also from most military personnel. Access to the barracks is strictly controlled, a lot is classified SECRET. So, while hardly anyone sees what the NISRFNATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Force does, the NATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization force sees almost everything. By gathering, pooling, analysing, and sharing accurate data, the soldiers lay the groundwork for decisions made on the basis of valid information, and thus, for achieving deterrence and defence capability.