History:
– Program started in 1947 as the Plan to Effect Standardization between the armies of the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada
– In 1954, the Plan was replaced by the Basic Standardization Concept
– Australia joined in 1963, establishing the ABCA Program
– New Zealand joined as an observer in 1965
– Originally focused on standardization for soldier equipment, training, and tactics
Equivalent organizations:
– AUSCANNZUKUS exists for navies
– ASIC is for air forces
– TTCP serves military scientific communities
– UKUSA and Five Eyes are for the Intelligence communities
See also:
– Air and Space Interoperability Council (air forces)
– AUSCANNZUKUS (navies)
– CANZUK
– Combined Communications Electronics Board
– Five Eyes (intelligence)
References:
– History of ABCANZ Armies Program
– New Zealand Army information
– AUSCANNZUKUS website details
– ASIC website resources
– Academic publication on military technology diffusion
External links:
– ABCA: A Petri Dish for Multinational Interoperability
– Staying on top of things in a changing world – Australian Army News
– Making the Case for Multinational Military Doctrine
ABCANZ Armies (formally, the American, British, Canadian, Australian, and New Zealand Armies' Program) is a program aimed at optimizing interoperability and standardization of training and equipment between the armies of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States, plus the United States Marine Corps and the Royal Marines. Established in 1947 as a means to capitalize on close cooperation between the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada during World War II, the program grew to include Australia (in 1963) and New Zealand (as an observer from 1965, with full membership in 2006, although the organization's short title remained "ABCA Armies' Program").
