NATO Stock Numbers (NSNs)

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The NATO Codification System (NCS) defines unique NATO Stock Number – NSN for assets based on the principle of “one item – one number” and enables the efficient use of resources and interoperable capabilities for the needs of national and multinational logistics management systems. NSN is a 13-digit numerical code that identifies all standardized material assets in a manner recognized by all NATO countries. NSN is used in all countries that are members of the NATO alliance. Some countries that use NSN are not members of NATO.

Manufacturers or suppliers cannot directly request the issuance of an NSN.

In order for an asset to receive an NSN, an authorized government institution of the country procuring the asset must determine the need for it and submit a formal request for the issuance of an NSN from the National Codification Bureau (NCB) of the country in which the asset is manufactured or from which it is procured. The NCB of the country from which the asset is acquired processes the request and, if approved, assigns an NSN.

Description of the NSN issuance procedure using an example:

Step 1: A company based in the Republic of Croatia has a contract to sell material assets to the armed forces (AF) of a NATO member or a sponsored non-member in the Tier 2.

Step 2: The AF of a NATO member or sponsored non-member in the Tier 2 cooperates with its national NCB to carry out the codification procedure for the assets it purchases from the Croatian company.

Step 3. The NCB of a NATO member or sponsored non-member in the Tier 2 sends the request for NSN allocation to the Croatian NCB together with all relevant data.

Step 4. The Croatian company submits all necessary technical data to the Croatian NCB, which carries out the codification and forwards the codification data to the NCB of the NATO member or sponsored non-member in the Tier 2.

Notes: The obligation to submit the necessary technical documentation and data by the manufacturer and/or supplier is regulated by the Codification Clause in accordance with the STANAG 4177. Tier 2 countries have a codification system that is certified as fully compliant with the NCS. Tier 2 is characterized by two-way data exchange and participation in the technical management of the NCS. NATO members and Tier 2 countries are equal in terms of rights and obligations within the framework of the AC/135 codification processes. A table listing all countries participating in AC/135 (NATO, Tier 2 and Tier 1) with national code codes, national codification office codes and the national NCAGE template can be viewed under the following link.

[na riječ “link” staviti poveznicu https://eportal.nspa.nato.int/ac135/data/pdf/NCS_codes_chart.pdf]

Technical documentation and data required for issuing an NSN

For weapons and military equipment and other material assets (NVO/MS), which do not have an assigned NSN, according to the requirements of the Croatian National Codification System, it is necessary to submit technical documentation (drawings, diagrams and other pictorial representations), which show the product in detail and which contain the following data:

  • Physical characteristics (material, dimensions, tolerances);
  • Functional and operational characteristics (speed, load capacity, load);
  • Electrical and/or electronic characteristics;
  • Full technical description including specifications, national and international standards and other documentation necessary for the identification of the NVO/MS;
  • Drawings, especially for modified NVO/MS,
  • Trade name or established name of the NVO/MS;
  • Unique barcode of the manufacturer;
  • Assembly requirements;
  • Special features that contributed to the uniqueness of the NVO/MS;
  • Application within the finished item.

Note: Certain details of the scope and content of technical documentation and data required for the issuance of an NSN may vary between countries, and may also depend on the specificities of individual assets. It is always necessary to consistently follow the requirements, which are contractually or agreed upon, i.e., those defined in the Codification Clause of the agreement or contract.