Adapting to meet the evolving terrorist threat

Counter Terrorism The NATO Alliance recognises that terrorism not only poses a direct threat to the security of the its citizens, but also poses a common threat to international stability and prosperity.

Thus, NATO has taken numerous measures to enhance its structures and capabilities to better respond to the challenges posed by terrorism.

Emerging challenges
Recently the Emerging Security Challenges Division (ESCD) was established as part of the International Staff to provide a cross-cutting approach to address a growing range of non-traditional risks and challenges. The Emerging Security Challenges Division is at the forefront of NATO’s efforts in many areas. This includes not only Counter Terrorism (CT), but also the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, cyber defence, and energy security, to mention a few.

As part of this re-organisation, the Defence against Terrorism Programme of Work (DAT PoW) was moved to this new division. The DAT PoW is one of the most proven programmes in the Alliance’s portfolio to address the scourge of terrorism. It is also one of the most relevant counter-terrorism programmes for public and private collaboration and partnership. Launched in the aftermath of the 2004 Madrid attacks, the DAT PoW focuses on the most critical capability needs as identified by NATO’s military authorities to counter asymmetric threats. Current areas of work include Large Aircraft Survivability, Harbour Protection, Non-Lethal Capabilities, Helicopter Protection, Protection of Critical Infrastructure, Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Consequence Management, Defence Against Mortar Attacks, Countering Improvised Explosive Devices, and Intelligence, Reconnaissance and Surveillance (IRS) against terrorist targets, and CBRN defence¹.

A pioneering initiative
With its multi-national and multi-organisational approach, the DAT POW has proven to be successful in promoting technological solutions and enhancing technical interoperability for both national and Alliance capabilities to better defend against terrorism.

The DAT POW is a pioneer initiative, seeking to minimise bureaucratic overheads with individual NATO nations taking the lead of projects, and supporting nations (to include partners) and agencies taking on sub-projects, hosting activities and lending their expertise. This approach leverages the capacities of national governments, industry, and the science and research communities, and accelerates counter-measure development, delivery and fielding. These efforts are coordinated and managed by the ESCD through its Counter Terrorism section.

Results
The programme has delivered. The Precision Air Drop (PAD) initiative² tested and demonstrated technologies designed to enhance the drop accuracy of payloads and concurrently extend the stand-off protection of air delivery platforms and crews.

The Defence Against Mortar Attack (DAMA) initiative (initially led by Netherlands and now Norway) developed a counter-mortar detect and warn solution. Both technologies can be found in use in Afghanistan today.

Despite the success of the programme in producing practical counter-measures, it is but a starting point for NATO’s efforts in countering terrorism. The fight against terrorism and mitigating asymmetric threats demand more than just technological solutions. With the positioning of the DAT POW in the new division it is clear that the programme’s scope will expand to provide a more comprehensive approach in finding counter-measure solutions.

Future projects will require the melding of assets from both NATO and such other important stakeholders as civilian law enforcement, border control agencies, and emergency response organisations.

The scope of the DAT POW and NATO counter-terrorism efforts will expand rapidly and touch both traditional and non-traditional organisations alike.

While the future may not be clear, the DAT POW and the ESCD will continue to strive to be on the cutting edge in leading NATO’s fight against terrorism.

References
1 Current Lead Nations include Bulgaria, Canada, France, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, United Kingdom, and the U.S.A.

2 Previously led by the U.S.A, the Precision Air-Drop Technology initiative was removed from the DAT PoW upon sucessfully meeting project objectives.

The views expressed are the NATO Counter Terrorism section’s and do not necessarily represent those of NATO.