Defence against terrorism programme

Individual NATO countries lead the various projects with support and contributions from other member countries:

The eleven areas in the programme are:

Reducing the vulnerability of wide-body civilian and military aircraft to man-portable air defence missiles (MANPADs). On-going work addresses technical, tactical and training countermeasures, while a strategy is being developed in cooperation with the civil aviation authorities. The key activities in this area are directed towards equipping the NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control (NAEW&C) aircraft with Directed Infra Red Counter Measures (DIRCM). The UK is the lead nation for this initiative.

Protecting harbours and ships from explosive-packed speedboats and underwater divers using sensor-nets, electro-optical detectors, rapid reaction capabilities and unmanned underwater vehicles. Italy is leading this effort with the support of the NATO Undersea Research Centre (NURC).

Reducing the vulnerability of helicopters to rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs). Bulgaria leads this initiative with the support of Greece. The efforts under this item are focused on improving our capabilities to detect RPGs and other ground fired weapons, to counter them, and to provide increased protection to crews, passengers and aircrafts.

Countering improvised explosive devices (IEDs), such as car and road-side bombs, through their detection and disruption or neutralisation. This effort is led by Spain, with significant US involvement. It is also making use of the expertise of industries in several member countries and through the NATO Industrial Advisory Group (NIAG). Various new technologies have been explored and promising results have been achieved, in particular in the area of stand-off detection.

Precision airdrop technology for special operations forces. The efforts in this area are directed towards development of capabilities to deliver personnel or equipment stealthily and precisely in all-weather conditions wherever they may be needed. The US has the lead on this initiative.

Detection, protection and defeat of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) weapons. The aim of this initiative is to prevent terrorists from using CBRN weapons, and to protect forces and populations against the effects of such weapons, should prevention fail. France is the lead nation in this effort, which has defensive (detection, protection, decontamination) as well as offensive (stand-off precision strikes) objectives. The Czech Republic, as a supporting nation, has been also very active in the training of individuals and teams working in this area.

Technologies for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and target acquisition of terrorists with the goal of developing improved tools for early warning identification of terrorists and their activities. Germany has the lead of this area.

Explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) has the objective of preventing existing stockpiles of munitions from falling into the hands of terrorists and of improving NATO's technological and operational capabilities to dispose of such stockpiles. Slovakia is the lead nation for this initiative with the support of Norway.

Technologies to defend against mortar attacks. Triggered by the increasing number of terrorist mortar attacks in Afghanistan and Iraq, this item was initiated by the Netherlands, who also leads this effort, during the CNAD meeting in November 2004. Germany is the supporting nation. The aim is to employ new and future technologies to detect mortar-firing positions, then to react with sufficient speed and accuracy against the attacker, or to engage the projectiles themselves.

Protection of critical infrastructure. This item was proposed by the Belgian Minister of Defence at the Berlin Informal Meeting in September 2005 and was recently added to the DAT Programme of Work. The scope of this item is being defined and it will be led by Belgium.

Developing non-lethal capabilities. An 11th DAT POW initiative has been launched to identify Non-Lethal Capabilities for NATO forces. Canada has volunteered to lead the initiative and is in the process of developing the scope for this project and the work plan to achieve it. The NATO operational community has underlined its need for better response capabilities which minimize collateral damage. Lack of alternatives to lethal force creates escalation of force situations which endanger both civilians and military forces alike, causing needless injury, failure of mission, and political fallout.