The Cooperative Airspace Initiative (CAI) was launched within the NRC framework in June 2002 according to the provisions of the Rome declaration.  The project aims at the creation of a system of air traffic information exchange along the borders of Russia and NATO member states.  Presently the system consists of four units in Russia and four units in NATO nations, and includes sites from the far north of Europe in Bodø (Norway) and Murmansk (Russia) to Ankara (Turkey) and Rostov-on-Don (Russia) in the south. The NATO Coordination Centre is located in Warsaw, Poland, and the Russian Federation Coordination Centre is located in Moscow. The units will host operational staff and will provide both an air situation display and their own voice communications between the sites.  

The aim of the CAI is to foster cooperation on airspace surveillance and air traffic coordination, with the underlying goal to enhance confidence building and to strengthen capabilities required for the handling of situations in which aircraft are suspected of being controlled by terrorists. The Initiative is financed by a coalition of the willing NATO nations and Russia. In future other nations can be invited to join the Initiative as participants and/or co-sponsors.

The NRC CAI information exchange system successfully passed the joint system testing in July 2008 and is used for training and operational testing in preparation for the next phase prior to the final operational capability declaration.

The NRC CAI project will contribute significantly to Russia – NATO trust building and to improved air safety and security.