National Armaments Directors discuss defence priorities and multinational cooperation

Discussions with partners focused on NATO’s commitment to partnerships as emphasised at the Wales Summit in September, reviewing the CNAD’s achievements in 2014, and progress made to institutionalise the countering improvised explosive devices effort in coordination with other NATO bodies. Delegates examined capability initiatives undertaken jointly by the CNAD Main Armament Groups, and reviewed the Alliance’s evolved approach to Smart Defence. Directors also looked at new potential areas for multinational cooperation in the armaments domain.

A strong NATO

Ambassador Alexander Vershbow, the NATO Deputy Secretary General, welcomed the CNAD’s role in proactively taking forward the implementation of the decisions taken at the Summit, underlining the importance of investing in defence and having the right capabilities. “To be strong as an Alliance, we need the right military capabilities. This requires effort and commitment, and it requires funding,” he said.

Stressing that Smart Defence is at the heart of the CNAD’s mission, Ambassador Vershbow encouraged nations to build on the positive momentum garnered at the Summit and convert it into concrete results. He also pointed out that the CNAD’s work with industry would be critical in maintaining a solid transatlantic bond, one of Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg’s top priorities. “Through your work with industry, the CNAD is helping to keep the transatlantic bond strong,” the Deputy Secretary General added.

The Conference is a regular forum that provides nations with an opportunity to highlight contemporary issues in armaments planning and advertise areas of potential or desired collaboration. 

Responding to defence capability priorities

Patrick Auroy, Assistant Secretary General for Defence Investment and Permanent Chairman of the Conference, emphasised the need to address defence capability priorities identified in Wales and to deliver on NATO’s Level of Ambition. He underlined that the CNAD community must “contribute to facilitating the expeditious, coherent and timely delivery of key capability priorities.”

National Armaments Directors examined ways to optimise and structure CNAD activities to ensure maximum impact on responding to the Alliance’s capability needs in a resource-effective manner. 

Directors listened to a briefing on the current status in the development of capabilities for Ballistic Missile Defence and Joint Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (including Alliance Ground Surveillance), and explored ways to pursue the follow-on capability for the AWACS fleet.

The next meeting of the CNAD will be held in spring 2015.