Testing of the first key developmental items should begin in 2014. Full system- level performance validation will take place at Sigonella. The first air vehicle is due to arrive there around 2015.

The deal is the latest NATO capability enhancement funded by only some members—a subset of NATO states also is behind the alliance's Boeing C-17 operation. The AGS program has backing from 13 governments (Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Norway, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and the U.S.); others will co-fund the in-service support, in some cases directly and others, such as the U.K. and France, with in-kind intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance contributions. Integrating those outside inputs into AGS is not part of the baseline contract.