18 Nov. 2005

Defence Against Terrorism programme progresses Background Defence Against Terrorism Programme of Work (DAT) NATO is making good progress in its Defence Against Terrorism (DAT) work programme, which has been expanded to include protection of critical infrastructure under the lead of Belgium. The work programme aims to develop new, cutting-edge technologies that will help Allies defend against the kinds of threats facing coalition forces in the Alliance-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan , as well as the forces of those NATO members who are participating in the coalition effort in Iraq . More countries are actively participating in the programme and all ten initiatives now have lead nations. Technology vs. terrorists The work programme was prepared by NATO’s Conference of National Armaments Directors (CNAD), the arms procurement chiefs of NATO member countries, during their meeting in May 2004. It was approved as part of an enhanced set of measures to strengthen the Alliance ’s contribution to the fight against terrorism by NATO leaders at their 28-29 June 2004 Istanbul Summit. Due to the immediate nature of the terrorist threat, most projects launched under the work programme are examining existing or new technologies that can be fielded in the near future.