The Joint Air Power Competence Centre (JAPCC) was established on 01 January 2005. Existing Communications and Information Systems (CIS) assets were taken over from Reaction Force Air Staff (RFAS).

The JAPCC's mission is to Research and assess the military potential of evolving air and space capabilities and translate this into doctrine, policy and strategic concepts, foster knowledge and application of the joint use of the Alliance's Air and Space Power, and contribute to the effectiveness of the Alliance's decision-making process regarding Joint Air Power matters by active participation in NATO Committees, Working Groups and Fora. As a knowledge-based staff, the JAPCC can only undertake these tasks if it has timely access to the most up-to-date information on Joint Air Power issues and NATO plans, policies and doctrines. The Staff must be able to rapidly process such information and exchange it, when required, with third parties in a timely fashion.

All of the above demands the availability of powerful, up-to-date CIS within JAPCC. Automated Information Systems (AIS) are interoperable with and connected to other key NATO staff agencies through different NATO Networks and the Internet.

All the requirements for CIS are formulated in a yearly JAPCC CIS plan. The aim of this JAPCC CIS Plan is to detail the CIS configuration required and describe the evolutionary process to ensure the continuing provision of adequate CIS support to meet the JAPCC tasks.