22 January 2026, Solbiate Olona, The MAVEN Course for personnel of the NATO Rapid Deployable Corps - Italy (NRDC-ITA), currently assigned to lead the Allied Reaction Force (ARF), successfully concluded on 22 January 2026. The course marked a significant milestone in strengthening command and control capabilities, with a strong focus on transformation, technological innovation, digitalisation and interconnection. The MAVEN is an artificial intelligence platform used for the analysis of operational data and therefore for decision support.
The ARF represents one of NATO’s key operational and technological platforms, playing a role that goes beyond immediate readiness. It functions as a training, innovation and experimentation hub, where new operational concepts, advanced command and control systems and cutting-edge technological solutions are tested and refined. In addition, the ARF serves as a doctrinal hub, supporting the development of employment options in support of NATO’s core tasks.
As an interconnected and resilient model, the ARF ensures continuous command and control capability, enabling decision-making readiness, operational continuity and high responsiveness across all domains. During the MAVEN Course, ARF activities were supported through the integrated use of NATO’s modern C2 platforms and advanced communication systems, including SitaWare, TOPFAS, LOGFAS and other NATO Functional Area Services (FAS) tools. These capabilities enabled effective synchronisation of effects across domains and the maintenance of an accurate and up-to-date Common Operational Picture.
The successful completion of the MAVEN Course comes at a crucial time, as the ARF prepares to lead its components during the Mission Rehearsal Exercise Steadfast Dart 26. Under the operational command of Joint Force Command Brunssum, the exercise entered its deployment phase in Central Europe on 15 January 2026.
Steadfast Dart 26 is NATO’s largest joint deployment exercise of the year, designed to test and demonstrate the Alliance’s ability to rapidly deploy, command and sustain multinational forces in a complex, multi-domain environment. Approximately 10,000 personnel from 11 Allied nations are taking part, integrating land, air, maritime, space, cyber and special operations capabilities.
In this context, the MAVEN Course has provided NRDC-ITA personnel with critical skills and shared understanding, directly enhancing their ability to support the ARF command during the upcoming phases of Steadfast Dart 26. The training contributes to ensuring that NATO forces remain credible, interoperable and ready to respond swiftly and effectively in support of Allied deterrence and defence.