25-26
Oct 2007
On 25 and 26 October, the NATO Conference of National Armaments Directors (CNAD) agreed to launch an 11th defence against terrorism area of work, on Non-Lethal Capabilities, with Canada as the lead nation.
The aim is to develop non-lethal capabilities which will give commanders in the field a much needed “flexible” response capability, with which to minimize collateral damage.
The Defence Against Terrorism Program of Work (DAT POW), launched in 2004, has become a NATO success story.
In the other 10 areas of the DAT POW there have been important achievements largely as a result of trials, demonstrations and exercises. Specifically, the latest Harbour Protection Trials in Taranto, Italy, the Countering Improvised Explosive Device Exercise in Iceland – codenamed Northern Challenge, and the CBRN exercise in the Czech Republic all provided opportunities for acquisition authorities and operators from the field to see first hand important counter-terrorism technologies and techniques.
Other DAT POW achievements since the last CNAD meeting have been the development of prototype helicopter protection armour, explosive ordnance disposal kits and sensors for the aerial detection of hidden ammunition stockpiles and weapon caches.
