Italian Defense and NATO M&S COE: Cooperation Agreement signed in the field of Modelling & Simulation.
Rome, May 5, 2026 — This morning, Major General (AF) Michele OBALLA, Chief of Staff of the Italian Joint Command for Operations, paid an official visit to the NATO Modeling & Simulation Centre of Excellence (M&S COE) to formalize a new Cooperation Agreement (CA) between the Italian Defense and the NATO Modelling and Simulation COE, aimed at strengthening information exchange, sharing expertise, and technical-operational collaboration. The agreement will foster synergy between the two organizations and aims to enhance the national capacity to manage complex scenarios through the use of new technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence, applied to Modeling & Simulation and Wargaming.
Welcomed by the Director of the NATO Modelling & Simulation COE, Col. (AF) Felice DE ROSA, the visit was also attended by representatives of Leonardo, Fabaris, and GM Spazio, companies that collaborate with the Centre.
During the visit, General OBALLA received an in-depth briefing on the main researches, development, and technical support activities that the Centre provides to meet NATO nations requirements. Particular attention was paid to key products such as the Wargaming Interactive Scenario Digital Overlay Model (WISDOM), Scenario Automated Generation using AI (SAGA), Electro-Magnetic Operations layer for M&S (ELMO), and the CBRN Activities Simulation Total Layer Environment (CASTLE).
The demonstrations highlighted how Modelling and Simulation (M&S), when integrated with advanced technologies such as Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), can support Italy and NATO in analysing and assessing risks within an increasingly complex and evolving international security environment.
It was further emphasised that modelling and simulation accelerate the analysis of complex scenarios and enhance the decision-making processes of military and political leadership, particularly in critical and emergency situations. By taking into account multiple variables, they enable the development and evaluation of well-considered and tested options within a more flexible, secure, and effective virtual environment.
Addressing these challenges is therefore essential to strengthening key capabilities, including support to decision making, operational planning, exercises, education and training, wargaming, and lessons learned process.
At the end of the visit, Major General (AF) Michele OBALLA expressed his appreciation for the Centre’s high level of professionalism and innovation, emphasizing how the newly launched collaboration represents a significant step toward a more effective contribution to the activities of the Nation and the Alliance.
Written by CWO Michele PELLEGRINO NATO M&S COE
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The NATO Modelling & Simulation Centre of Excellence is dedicated to the promotion of Modelling & Simulation in support of operational requirements, training and interoperability. The Centre act as a catalyst for transformation through the involvement of NATO, governments, academia, industry, operational and training entities, by improving the networking of NATO and nationally owned Modelling & Simulation systems, the cooperation between Nations and organizations through the sharing of Modelling & Simulation information and developments and serving as an international source of expertise for transformation in the related domain. https://www.mscoe.org
NATO Centres of Excellence are nationally or multi-nationally funded institutions accredited by NATO. They train and educate leaders and specialists from NATO member and partner countries, assist in doctrine development, identify lessons learned, improve interoperability and capabilities, and test and validate concepts through experimentation. They offer recognized expertise and experience that is of benefit to the Alliance and support the transformation of NATO, while avoiding the duplication of assets, resources and capabilities already present within the NATO command structure. Although not part of the NATO command structure, they are part of a wider framework supporting NATO Command Arrangements. [source https://www.act.nato.int/centres-of-excellence]
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