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Releasable for Internet Transmission

28 October 2009 DOCUMENT

PFP(NAAG)D(2009)0027

NATO ARMY ARMAMENTS GROUP (NAAG)

Ratification Draft 1 - STANAG 4694 (Edition 1)

NATO ACCESSORY RAIL

Memorandum by the Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Armaments

(RATIFICATION REQUEST)

Reference: PFP(NAAG-LCG/1)DS(2009)0001, dated 24 June 2009

1. AC/225 Land Capability Group 1 on Dismounted Soldier has approved the draft
STANAG 4694 and requests ratification.

2. The agreed text is herewith forwarded to delegations to obtain national ratification

by 30 April 2010. Using the attached form, Nations are requested to inform my staff of
their national ratification references, together with the actual or forecast date by which
national implementation is intended to be effective, by service in the table at paragraph 1b.
of that form.

3. Most national Ministries of Defence contain a standardization office or

standardization liaison officer who can give advice on the procedure to be adopted to
obtain a formal ratification reference. It is recommended that contact be made with that
office.

4. As soon as sufficient ratifications have been received, this STANAG will be

forwarded for promulgation.

(Signed) Richard FROH

Annex 1: Ratification response form

1 Annex Action Officer: M. DOVE, X3659

Original: English
G:\Docum\AC225\Ac225\Documents\PFP\2009\PFP(NAAG)D(2009)0027 RATIF DRAFT 1 ST 4694 ED1 ENG.doc

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ANNEX 1
PFP(NAAG)D(2009)0027

NATIONAL REPLY ON THE RATIFICATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A STANAG

(Date) (National Reference)

To: Assistant Secretary General for Defence Investment

NATO/OTAN

Subject: STANAG 4694 (Edition 1) – Ratification Draft 1 – NATO ACCESSORY RAIL

Reference: PFP(NAAG)D(2009)0027, dated 28 October 2009

1. The following information is submitted concerning the subject STANAG.

a. RATIFICATION INFORMATION

Ratifying Ratifying Ratifying, but not Not ratifying Not participating

w/reservations implementing

Ratification Reference:

b. PRELIMINARY INFORMATION ON IMPLEMENTATION

Intended date of implementation

Navy/ Army/ Air

Mer Terre

2. RESERVATIONS:

3. COMMENTS:

4. One paper copy is/is not required

(Signature block)
Enclosure(s):

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ENCLOSURE 1
PFP(NAAG)D(2009)0027

STANAG 4694
(Edition 1)
(Ratification Draft 1)

NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANISATION

(NATO)

NATO STANDARDISATION AGENCY

(NSA)

STANDARDISATION AGREEMENT
(STANAG)

SUBJECT: DRAFT STANAG 4694 – NATO ACCESSORY RAIL

Promulgated on

Juan A. MORENO
Vice Admiral, ESP(N)
Director, NATO Standardization Agency

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STANAG 4694
(Edition 1)
(Ratification Draft 1)

RECORD OF AMENDMENTS

NO Reference/date of Date entered Signature

amendment

EXPLANATORY NOTES
AGREEMENT

1. This NATO Standardization Agreement (STANAG) is promulgated by the Director

NATO Standardization Agency under the authority vested in him by the NATO
Standardization Organisation Charter.

2. No departure may be made from the agreement without informing the tasking
authority in the form of a reservation. Nations may propose changes at any time to the
tasking authority where they will be processed in the same manner as the original
agreement.

3. Ratifying nations have agreed that national orders, manuals and instructions
implementing this STANAG will include a reference to the STANAG number for purposes
of identification.

RATIFICATION, IMPLEMENTATION AND RESERVATIONS

4. Ratification, implementation and reservation details are available on request or

through the NSA websites (internet http://nsa.nato.int; NATO Secure WAN
http://nsa.hq.nato.int).

FEEDBACK

5. Any comments concerning this publication should be directed to NATO/NSA – Bvd

Leopold III - 1110 Brussels – BE.

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STANAG 4694
(Edition 1)
(Ratification Draft 1)

NATO STANDARDIZATION AGREEMENT

(STANAG)

NATO ACCESSORY RAIL

Annexes:

A. Drawing.
B. Recommended method to attach accessories to the NATO Accessory Rail.

Foreword

Due to an increased requirement to attach accessories to infantry weapons, there is a

need to standardize the interface between these accessories and the weapon. Because of
this NATO established RTO / SCI panel / group 178 / RTG-043 consisting of
representatives from CAN, DEU, ESP, ITA, NLD, NOR, ROM, SVK, SWE and USA.

The NATO Accessory Rail according to this STANAG has full backwards compatibility with
existing US MIL-STD-1913 accessories.

Related documents

N/A

AIM

1. The aim of this agreement is standardization of an accessory interface for

interchangeability.

2. This document will describe the interface.

3. This STANAG will also give recommendation on attachment methods.

AGREEMENT

4. Participating nations agree that they shall adhere to the technical interfaces as
outlined below.

5. Nations may propose changes to this standard if the development of future

systems or technological enhancements dictate changes or refinement.

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STANAG 4694
(Edition 1)
(Ratification Draft 1)

6. Such proposals should be submitted, at the earliest possible opportunity, to the

Military Agency for Standardization and the Defense Support Division where they
will be processed in the same manner as the original agreement.

ASSUMPTIONS AND EXCLUSIONS

GENERAL

9. The NATO accessory rail is defined by the drawing in annex A.

10. Recommended method to attach accessories to the NATO Accessory Rail is found
in annex B.

IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS AGREEMENT

11. This STANAG is implemented when signatory countries, by means of appropriate

national procedures, have:

(a) Ensured that all persons responsible for the design and construction
of Dismounted Soldier System and related equipment are informed of
the existence of the NATO standard characteristics defined in this
Agreement; and

(b) Ensured that the introduction of new equipment designs does not
hinder the interoperability of their respective new equipment with other
Nation’s Dismounted Soldier System. It is the signatory Nation’s
responsibility to provide interoperability at the level of their choices
respecting this STANAG.

Definitions

Dismounted Soldier Systems Everything the soldier wears, carries and consumes to fulfill
the soldiers tasks as individuals, as members of fighting
teams and as parts of higher-level operational units.

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STANAG 4694
(Edition 1)
(Ratification Draft 1)

Related military technical interface specifications

US MIL-STD-1913

Related technical specifications

Dimensioning and tolerances of the accessory mounting rail for small arms shall be in
accordance with ISO 2768, ASME Y 14.100, and ASME Y 14.5M-1994.

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ANNEX A
STANAG 4694
(Edition 1)
(Ratification Draft 1)

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ANNEX B
STANAG 4694
(Edition 1)
(Ratification Draft 1)

Recommended method to attach accessories to the NATO Accessory Rail

It is recommended that accessories (for example sight mounts) are in contact with the rail
on three sides only. These are the top surface of the rail, and the lower angled two
surfaces as shown below.

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