13 May 2005

New technology detects homemade bombs from afar News 27/04/2005 - NATO Spring 2005 CNAD meeting makes progress on key projects Background NATOs Programme of Work for Defence Against Terrorism A new technology to be prototyped by NATO and partner countries in 2005 could save hundreds of lives by providing early detection of improvised explosives or suicide bombers. Attacks with improvised explosive devices (IEDs) are one of the main causes of death and injury among Allied forces and a major threat to civilian populations. The March 2004 attacks in Madrid were carried out with explosives in backpacks, detonated by mobile phones. Countering this type of terrorist activity is the number one priority in NATO’s Programme of Work for Defence Against Terrorism, launched in 2004. Progress in developing this new technology was reviewed at the spring meeting of the Conference of National Armaments Directors, 27-28 April. A first prototype in 2005 NATO’s efforts in this area are currently focused on stand-off detection of explosives, where tests of laser-based systems have been particularly promising. Research and experimentation on such systems will continue in the coming months in cooperation with Spain - the lead country for this initiative - Allied Command Transformation and national industries from NATO and partner countries. The aim is to fully develop a prototype stand-off detection capability by the end of 2005. This prototype will be based on the LIBS technology (Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy), which will use a laser beam to identify the chemical composition of various substances, including explosives, at safe distances. Due to the complex nature of the threat, no single ‘silver bullet’ will resolve all problems relating to IEDs. NATO is therefore also considering a range of other countermeasures, in the field of detection, protection from and destruction of IEDs. Relevant emerging technologies include neutron-base devices, biosensors and ion drift spectrometers for detection, and high power microwaves for jamming remote-controlled detonators. As for the other technologies developed under the programme, the procurement of resulting equipment will be decided by countries, individually or collectively.