The Robotic Experimentation and Prototyping augmented by Maritime Unmanned Systems (REPMUS) is an annual Portuguese-led multinational large-scale experimentation exercise. It brings together operational communities, academia and industry to develop and test operational concepts, technological advances, and new progress in sensors, actuators, command, control, and communications, as well as tactics and procedures related to Maritime Unmanned Systems (MUS). The COE supports the exercise by coordinating the Rapid Environmental Assessment (REA) Warfare Group and assisting academic and industry partners in developing new MUS to conduct military environmental assessments.
As custodian of the ATP-32 publication, the COE is splitting ATP-32 to make it a standalone REA procedures publication, and the Military Oceanography Support Manual should become AMETOCP-1 publication. The Centre is coordinating writing teams to review ATP-32 and create AMETOCP-1, with the aim of simultaneous approval of both documents. In the meantime, the current version of ATP-32 will continue to be used.
The Dynamic Messenger Exercise (DYMS) is a biennial NATO exercise focused on the integration of MUS into NATO Naval Forces. The COE gives direct support to the Commanding Task Force during the execution phase, and supports HQ MARCOM during the whole exercise, providing the enhanced Recognized Environmental Picture with REA information and data acquired and processed in support of activities conducted during the overlap period between the REPMUS and DYMS exercises.
The COE is involved in the Federated Mission Networking (FMN) long-term project, participating in the Geospatial, Meteorological and Oceanographic (GEOMETOC) syndicate and the Space Weather Tiger Team and leading and coordinating the FMN METOC Team (i.e., for the definition of METOC data and exchange standards and requirements). FMN project provides a NATO process and framework for nations to adopt interoperability standards and develop their capabilities according to a common plan synchronized in time. The requirements of the FMN systems will be validated among others in the CWIX exercise.
The Centre participated as an observer in the NATO Coalition Warrior Interoperability Exercise (CWIX) in 2023, integrated into the Portuguese delegation. At present, the COE is contributing with its own capability, focusing on exploring a catalogue web service that can federate all the other catalogues that nations bring to the exercise to share their GEOMETOC information. From 2025 onwards, the COE will take on the role of deputy leader of the GEOMETOC Focus Area for this exercise.
For several years, during the annual editions of the Neptune Strike exercises, the Centre has provided METOC support to STRIKFORNATO by integrating its staff. Although this is not the primary mission of a COE, this type of support occurs occasionally.
The COE participates in the DACIA/TOMIS exercise, a biennial multinational operational exercise hosted by the Romanian Naval Forces in Constanta/Mangalia and the western part of the Black Sea, which aims to provide high-end training in the full spectrum of naval warfare, with a focus on mine warfare and REA. The Centre is supporting the Romanian Navy in the coordination of the REA Warfare Group, REA Plan and C2 of the REA exercise series and REA technology assessment.
The COE provides subject matter expert support to the development of NATO doctrine, recently contributing to AMETOCP-3.3 (File Format and METOC Data), AMETOCP-4 (METOC Codes Manual), AMETOCP-5 (SWx Support Manual) and AOG data product specifications, while overseeing AJP-3.17 (Geospatial Support) and contributing to the development of AJP-3.29 (Space Operations) and AJP-3.11 (METOC Support to Joint Forces).
The COE is currently delivering the NATO Course on REA Support to Maritime Operations and, together with the Allies, preparing to annually host the NATO METOC Tactical Operators Course and the NATO Military Oceanography Course starting in 2026.
Through these and other initiatives, such as lecturing and mentoring at the NATO School Oberammergau for the NATO Geospatial and METOC Orientation Courses, and offering the Allies a REA Data Hub Handbook, the Maritime GEOMETOC COE continues to play a crucial role in enhancing NATO's maritime operational capabilities to ensure effective and efficient mission outcomes in complex and dynamic environments.