Multi Domain Operation

Definition

Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) is not a solo act but a collaborative effort for NATO. It's pushing us to orchestrate military activities across all operating domains and environments, synchronising them with non-military activities. This collaborative approach enables the Alliance to create desired outcomes at the right time and place, enhancing the effectiveness of NATO’s Military Instrument of Power. It's a call for us, as military personnel and NATO stakeholders, to prepare, plan, orchestrate and execute coordinated activities in collaboration with other stakeholders and actors associated with the Alliance, underlining the importance of our contributions to the collective effort.

 “The orchestration of military activities across all operational domains and environments, synchronised with non-military activities to enable the Alliance to create converging effects at the speed of relevance.”
(NATO agreed)

 Domain:  Within NATO’s structure, there are five areas of operations: Maritime, Land, Air, Space, and Cyberspace.  Given the speed of information, data flows, and adversarial capabilities, orchestrating military activities across all domains as a single force is crucial for long-term defence and deterrence initiatives within NATO.

 Connection to CIMIC:

CIMIC and MDO are closely intertwined in the evolving military landscape. While CIMIC operates comprehensively across different domains and branches, MDO provides the setting in which CIMIC functions. MDO, driven by the changing security environment and the need for a shift in warfare models, emphasises the orchestration of military activities across all operational domains in synchronisation with non-military activities. As the operational domains diversify, the involvement of various actors and stakeholders, including non-military partners, is crucial. In this context, CIMIC plays a significant role by integrating civil factors into the operating environment, facilitating civil-military interaction, and supporting mission accomplishment in various scenarios. Coordinating military and non-military activities through CIMIC sets the stage for converging effects across all operational domains and environments. As NATO embraces a multi-domain perspective, CIMIC's role becomes more critical. The interconnected nature of CIMIC and MDO underscores the importance of considering both military and non-military spectrums in operational planning and execution.

Source

https://www.act.nato.int/article/mdo-in-nato-explained/

NATO Term

Keywords

Collaborative Effort

Orchestration

Synchronisation

Desired Outcomes

Military Instrument of Power

Preparedness

CIMIC and MDO

Diversification of Operational Domains

Civil-Military Interaction

Converging Effects