NATO tests new harbour protection technologies

Three lead nations – Belgium, Germany and Italy – will combine their efforts to test and validate new surveillance technologies in a harbour environment. The objective is to evaluate the systems’ effectiveness in searching, identifying and defeating any potential terrorist threat or intruder approaching the harbour. The event will take place at the Eckernförde naval base on the Baltic Sea coast.

A comprehensive approach for the future
The goal of the demonstration is to harmonize the DAT POW initiatives and provide a comprehensive approach for the protection of NATO forces, equipment and critical infrastructure.  It also aims to present new technologies and highlight possible contributions by NATO Partner countries. 

According to NATO’s Counter Terrorism Technology Unit which coordinates the DAT POW initiatives with lead nations, TechDemo08 “will create synergies between individual Defence Against Terrorism initiatives and promises to be an exciting demonstration of new and emerging capabilities”. 

The purpose of the 11 DAT POW initiatives undertaken by NATO’s Conference of National Armament Directors (CNAD) is to develop new, cutting-edge technology, or adapt existing technology to protect troops and civilians from terrorist attacks.  The DAT POW was approved as a part of an enhanced set of measures to strengthen the Alliance’s contribution to the fight against terrorism by NATO leaders at the Istanbul Summit in June 2004.  It is one of NATO’s responses to new security challenges posed by terrorism.