25/01/2013 Nelly Moussu - Economie et technologie

A l’occasion de son déplacement en Estonie les 10 et 11 janvier dernier, l’officier général cyberdéfense de l’état-major des armées françaises a rappelé l’engagement du pays à participer au Centre d’excellence en cyberdéfense de l’Otan, basé à Tallinn, en 2013.

January 24th, 2013 By NATO  - defencetalk.com

Secure roads, safe lines of communication and freedom of movement are crucial for the safety of both soldiers and civilians in Afghanistan. Several Allies are working together to identify the best equipment for route clearance operations, including remote-controlled robots. This is one of a package of multinational ‘Smart Defence’ projects launched at NATO’s Chicago Summit in 2012.

Improvised explosive devices (IEDs) are the weapon of choice for insurgents. According to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan, IEDs caused more than 70 per cent of civilian casualties from January to November 2012.

“In Afghanistan, we have learned how important it is to protect our forces against roadside bombs,” said NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, addressing the press at Chicago. “So a number of Allies will jointly acquire remote-controlled robots which can clear such bombs – protecting our forces and civilians alike.”

A challenging mission

“The risks associated with route clearance missions are very high,” explains Dr Franco Fiore, Head of the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Sensor Group at NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCI).

Not only do route clearance missions seek to neutralise mines along roads and trails – they are often ambushed by insurgents close to sites where IEDs have been placed. Frequently, units are called upon to execute the much more complex task of ‘clearance-in-zone operations’, when the area has to be cleared of enemies before route clearance can be conducted.

Route clearance requires mobility and maneuverability, as well as the joint efforts of experts in countering IEDs, the disposal of explosive ordnance and dealing with chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear materials.

Detection equipment such as metal detectors, video cameras installed on vehicles or unmanned vehicles are commonly used, as are dogs. Capabilities that can further identify and confirm the threat – including TALON robots and hydraulic arms installed on Buffalo armored vehicles – are also required.

Other factors that have to be taken into account when procuring equipment include the terrain, seasonal weather, the level of infrastructure, insurgent threats, and the type of IEDs.

Transitioning to Afghan lead for security

ISAF is increasingly focused on training, advising and assisting the Afghan national security forces, who are expected to assume full security responsibility for their people and country by the end of 2014.

Route clearance is one of many areas in which training is being offered by ISAF and individual nations. However, route clearance operations involve costs that have to be supported by a nation or a group of nations. Another major challenge is the need to make available to Afghan security forces essential intelligence and IED threat analyses.

“During this transition period, one of the first steps would be that the Afghan government and various NATO nations sign agreements to provide this support on a bilateral basis,” says Dr Cristian Coman, Senior Scientist at NCI.

Getting smart about procurement

Route clearance operations vary from nation to nation. Some involve military search teams, combat engineers and explosive ordnance disposal teams; others have specialized route clearance teams. But non-specialized approaches pose a high risk to troops on the ground.

“That is the reason why we need a route clearance package, which is a specialized set of engineering equipment and vehicles designed to perform the route clearance mission,” concludes Fiore. The Smart Defence project for the procurement of robots that was endorsed at Chicago Summit in 2012 will support this.

Based on experience gained in Afghanistan, the project will identify the best remote-controlled robots for route clearance operations to avoid exposing military personnel to explosive devices. It will also promote joint procurement of state-of-the-art equipment and facilitate multinational cooperation on deployment.

Such pooling and sharing of resources – ‘Smart Defence’ – is crucial to counter the effects of cuts in national defence budgets in these times of financial austerity.

Jan. 18, 2013 defense-unmanned.com

(Source: NATO; issued Jan. 18, 2013)

Developing Remote-Controlled Robots to Clear Roadside Bombs

Secure roads, safe lines of communication and freedom of movement are crucial for the safety of both soldiers and civilians in Afghanistan. Several Allies are working together to identify the best equipment for route clearance operations, including remote-controlled robots. This is one of a package of multinational ‘Smart Defence’ projects launched at NATO’s Chicago Summit in 2012.

Improvised explosive devices (IEDs) are the weapon of choice for insurgents. According to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan, IEDs caused more than 70 per cent of civilian casualties from January to November 2012.

“In Afghanistan, we have learned how important it is to protect our forces against roadside bombs,” said NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, addressing the press at Chicago. “So a number of Allies will jointly acquire remote-controlled robots which can clear such bombs – protecting our forces and civilians alike.”

A challenging mission

“The risks associated with route clearance missions are very high,” explains Dr Franco Fiore, Head of the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Sensor Group at NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCI).

Not only do route clearance missions seek to neutralise mines along roads and trails – they are often ambushed by insurgents close to sites where IEDs have been placed. Frequently, units are called upon to execute the much more complex task of ‘clearance-in-zone operations’, when the area has to be cleared of enemies before route clearance can be conducted.

Route clearance requires mobility and manoeuvrability, as well as the joint efforts of experts in countering IEDs, the disposal of explosive ordnance and dealing with chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear materials.

Detection equipment such as metal detectors, video cameras installed on vehicles or unmanned vehicles are commonly used, as are dogs. Capabilities that can further identify and confirm the threat – including TALON robots and hydraulic arms installed on Buffalo armoured vehicles – are also required.

Other factors that have to be taken into account when procuring equipment include the terrain, seasonal weather, the level of infrastructure, insurgent threats, and the type of IEDs.

Transitioning to Afghan lead for security

ISAF is increasingly focused on training, advising and assisting the Afghan national security forces, who are expected to assume full security responsibility for their people and country by the end of 2014.

Route clearance is one of many areas in which training is being offered by ISAF and individual nations. However, route clearance operations involve costs that have to be supported by a nation or a group of nations. Another major challenge is the need to make available to Afghan security forces essential intelligence and IED threat analyses.

“During this transition period, one of the first steps would be that the Afghan government and various NATO nations sign agreements to provide this support on a bilateral basis,” says Dr Cristian Coman, Senior Scientist at NCI.

Getting smart about procurement

Route clearance operations vary from nation to nation. Some involve military search teams, combat engineers and explosive ordnance disposal teams; others have specialized route clearance teams. But non-specialized approaches pose a high risk to troops on the ground.

“That is the reason why we need a route clearance package, which is a specialised set of engineering equipment and vehicles designed to perform the route clearance mission,” concludes Fiore. The Smart Defence project for the procurement of robots that was endorsed at Chicago Summit in 2012 will support this.

Based on experience gained in Afghanistan, the project will identify the best remote-controlled robots for route clearance operations to avoid exposing military personnel to explosive devices. It will also promote joint procurement of state-of-the-art equipment and facilitate multinational cooperation on deployment.

Such pooling and sharing of resources – ‘Smart Defence’ – is crucial to counter the effects of cuts in national defence budgets in these times of financial austerity.

19 janvier 2013 par Jacques N. Godbout - 45enord.ca

Le secrétaire à la Défense, Leon E. Panetta, a prononcé un discours le vendredi 18 janvier sur la question de la nouvelle vocation de l’OTAN au King College, à Londres, 4e étape de sa tournée européenne qui l’a menée jusqu’ici à Lisbonne, Madrid et Rome

Les pays de l’OTAN se sont réunis en 1949 pour établir une défense commune contre la superpuissance soviétique, disparue depuis. Maintenant, a souligné le secrétaire américain, l’alliance – si elle veut rester alliance multilatérale de sécurité capable, efficace et durable, doit se préparer à répondre rapidement à un large éventail de menaces de sécurité alors même que les pays membres, coupent dans leur budget de défense.

Le public composé d’étudiants et de membres du corps professoral du Département d’études sur la guerre du King College, et le secrétaire américain a souligné que c’est tout spécialement à ces jeunes leaders qu’il voulait s’adresser. L’OTAN, vieille de plus de 60 ans, demeure « le fondement des partenariats de l’Amérique sur la planète « , a-t-il déclaré, « Mais aujourd’hui, après plus de 11 années de guerre, je crois que nous sommes à un nouveau tournant dans l’histoire de l’alliance transatlantique. »

« L’essentiel, c’est qu’aucune nation ne peut faire face aux menaces … seul », a-t-il ajouté. « En transformant ses capacités, l’OTAN doit développer la coopération novatrice, investir dans de nouvelles frontières et créer des partenariats régionaux.(…) La coopération innovatrice comprend le positionnement des forces et des équipements équiper afin qu’ils puissent répondre aux menaces rapidement et efficacement.(…) Par exemple le Département de la Défense a redéployé deux brigades de l’armée hors d’Europe. »

Par ailleurs, sur l’affaire de l’attaque et de la prise d’otages en Algérie par un groupe islamiste lié à Al-Qaïda, en représailles pour l’intervention militaire au Mali, Leon Panetta a adressé une mise en garde aux terroristes, déclarant qu’il n’y aurait « Pas de sanctuaire pour les terroristes ».

« Ceux qui attaquent sans raison notre pays et notre peuple n’auront aucun endroit où se cacher. (…) »Quelles que soient les motivations des preneurs d’otages, il n’y a aucune justification au fait de kidnapper et de tuer des innocents », a-t-il poursuivi, ajoutant que les Etats-Unis « travaillaient 24h sur 24″ pour que leurs concitoyens puissent rentrer sains et saufs et allaient « poursuivre (leurs) consultations étroites avec le gouvernement algérien ».

À lire aussi:

Panetta, en visite en Italie, parle de la guerre au Mali et de la prise d’otages en Algérie >>

January 16th, 2013 By US Department of Defense - defencetalk.com

Training and partnership will be among the top priorities as NATO’s mission in Afghanistan ends, the alliance’s supreme allied commander for transformation said in Brussels today.

Gen. Jean-Paul Paloméros of the French air force, who assumed his command three months ago, said at a news conference at NATO headquarters that he is charged to ensure allied armed forces are prepared to face the challenges NATO could encounter once the International Security Assistance Forces mission concludes.

“NATO needs to continue preparing for future challenges, and that is my remit,” Paloméros said. “Today’s environment is marked by very important … changes in the strategic and political landscape and the economic environment.”

The general noted that NATO has fostered allied interoperability, capabilities and partner cooperation, with steady transformation from the Cold War to missions in the Balkans, Afghanistan and Libya.

The current economic environment also mandates a coordinated response, Paloméros said, and the alliance’s efforts must give member nations’ chiefs of defense staff, ambassadors and defense ministers the capabilities necessary for collective defense and NATO’s other various responsibilities.

Allied Command Operations has been responsible for training since December, the general said, and training will remain a critical thread in maintaining the interoperability, availability and efficiency of NATO’s military forces within the transformation.

Paloméros said the connective forces initiative, a new training concept, will ensure collaboration among NATO members and will be complemented by individual training. Allied Command Transformation will propose various e-learning tools.

“We want to be able to train … our men, our women and their commanders in the new environment, to better prepare them and to be able to gain savings,” the general said.

Multinational defense projects such as the NATO Response Force, ground surveillance and the defense planning process have built on ideas germinated at alliance’s Chicago summit in May, NATO officials said, noting that each project better enables rapid responses to modern challenges in missile defense, cyber defense and in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance through coordinated, efficient and visible planning.

“[We plan] at the political level so that all countries can participate … in the search for a transatlantic balance,” Paloméros said. “It allows us to ensure consistency in development of alliance capabilities.”

Since 21 alliance countries also are members of the European Union, the general said, NATO will continue to develop and refine capability development goals with the EU to avoid duplication and maximize benefit.

“History never stands still,” he added. “ACT … is here to stay, [and] I’m ready to continue this reflection with you.”

The alliance’s chiefs of defense staff will meet this week, and its defense ministers will meet in February to develop a plan to reinforce capabilities and training priorities.

January 15, 2013 Jorge Benitez - acus.org

From Hurriyet Daily News:  NATO said Monday it supported French efforts to turn back the terrorist threat in Mali but that the alliance had received no request for assistance and had not discussed the conflict, AFP has reported.

"We welcome the efforts of the international community in support of the implementation of the United Nations ... resolution 2085 (on Mali)," a NATO spokesman said.

"France has taken swift action to roll back the offensive of the terrorist groups in Mali," the spokesman said.

"We are hopeful that such efforts will help to restore the rule of law in Mali and ... roll back the threat" of groups which threaten the "security and stability of the country, the region and beyond." At the same time, NATO stressed this was a national operation, carried out by France, and there had been no request for assistance nor had there been a "discussion within NATO of this crisis." "So far, the operation in Mali is a national operation in support of Mali. It was decided by the French government ... NATO is not involved in that. . . ."

Britain over the weekend authorized sending several C-17 transport planes to help France bring more troops. The United States is sending drones, as well as communications and logistical support. 

January 08, 2013 by General Dynamics Canada

General Dynamics Canada has been awarded a CA$32m contract by Northrop Grumman Corporation for key communications network technology for the NATO Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) program.

Under this contract, General Dynamics Canada will provide the software that will control the AGS Communications Ground Control System (CGCS). The CGCS will manage radio and satellite communications between Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and the main operating base in Sigonella, Italy.

General Dynamics Canada will also deliver ruggedized computer workstations and the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) intercom systems that will enable communications between operators at the operating base and with mobile command centers. In addition, the company will provide engineering support for the integration of its software and systems at Northrop Grumman's facilities in the US, and at the main operating base in Italy.

"This contract highlights the capabilities of the world-leading communication solutions we have developed through many years of innovation in airborne ISR systems," said David Ibbetson, general manager for General Dynamics Canada.

"It showcases Canadian technology that we have successfully deployed on the CP-140 Aurora as part of the Aurora Incremental Modernization Project, and on the CH148 Cyclone as part of the Maritime Helicopter Program. At the same time, it provides us with the opportunity to leverage the experience and expertise of the highly skilled employees at our facilities across Canada.

"As important, the key technologies being provided by General Dynamics Canada will be available for future UAV-based programs in Canada, such as the Joint Unmanned Surveillance Target Acquisition System and the Mercury Global Wideband Global Satellite communications system."

Dan Chang, Northrop Grumman vice president and program manager of the NATO AGS program, said: "This is another example of how Northrop Grumman is leveraging national investments already made in the NATO AGS program to benefit the entire alliance.

"We look forward to working with General Dynamics Canada on this program to deliver this critical capability to NATO."

The NATO AGS program, led by Northrop Grumman, is a major international procurement initiative to establish an airborne ground surveillance system, which can provide NATO commanders with a comprehensive picture of activity on the ground. It includes five Northrop Grumman high-altitude, long endurance Global Hawk UAVs, missionized to NATO requirements; mobile ground command and control vehicles; as well as associated command and control base stations. Once deployed, the AGS system will enable NATO and its coalition partners to gather intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance information to support military and humanitarian operations.

With its main operating base at Sigonella, NATO AGS will be co-located with the US Air Force Global Hawks and the US Navy MQ-4C Triton (BAMS) Broad Area Maritime Surveillance unmanned aircraft systems, further advancing synergies across the three programs in operational capability, lifecycle logistics and sustainment.

Development and production of the AGS program is expected to take place over the next three years, with initial operation scheduled for November 2016. General Dynamics Canada will continue to provide in-service support for the system beyond 2016.

déc 19, 2012 Nicolas Gros-Verheyde (BRUXELLES2)

Le Secrétaire général de l’OTAN, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, vient d’exprimer son désir à Herman Van Rompuy (le président du Conseil européen) d’être invité au sommet des chefs d’État et de gouvernement, de décembre 2013, consacré en partie à la Défense.

Une demande qui peut paraître évidente quand on parle de partenariat OTAN UE au sein d’une réunion des ministres de la Défense. Mais qui peut apparaître aussi déplacée ici. L’essentiel de la discussion est ailleurs. L’Europe de la Défense souffre actuellement d’un manque d’investissement de la part des autorités politiques et budgétaires européennes. Ce n’est donc pas un problème de l’OTAN mais des États membres. Ensuite, la question des lacunes européennes est éminemment une question européenne tout autant économique, juridique et politique que militaire.

Enfin, il y a des questions proprement européennes à régler au sein de l’Union européenne. Dans quelle mesure des projets militaires à usage civil (et vice-versa) peuvent bénéficier de fonds européens ? Et lesquels ? Va-t-on plus loin dans le mouvement d’organisation du marché de défense initié par les directives de Défense ? Quel bilan tire-t-on de la mise en place des instruments nés du Traité de Lisbonne ? Celles-ci sont-elles bien adaptées ? La gestion de crises européenne ne mérite-t-elle pas d’être mieux coordonnée, voire réorganisée, entre des initiatives que continuent de prendre, de façon séparée, la Commission européenne et les structures du service diplomatique européen. Bien sûr il y a un point portant sur les synergies OTAN- UE en matière de pooling and sharing d’un côté, de Smart Défense de l’autre. Peut-on limiter alors la présence de Rasmussen à ce point ? Cela paraît difficile…

A moins que la présence de Rasmussen ne soit pas seulement la discussion des sujets de fond. Mais le renouvellement en cours des structures européennes d’un côté, du secrétariat général de l’OTAN, de l’autre, n’est peut-être pas tout à fait pour rien dans cette volonté de présence… Un sommet est aussi une occasion inespérée de tester, ou valider, certaines candidatures.

MOSCOU, 7 décembre - RIA Novosti

Le bouclier antimissile restera le problème N°1 dans l'ordre du jour du dialogue Moscou-Otan, a déclaré vendredi le représentant permanent de la Russie auprès de l'Alliance Alexandre Grouchko lors d'un duplex Moscou-Bruxelles organisé par RIA Novosti.

"Le bouclier antimissile restera le problème N°1 dans l'ordre du jour du Conseil Russie-Otan. Si l'on réussit à s'entendre, cela voudra dire que pour la première fois depuis la fin de la "guerre froide" la Russie et l'Otan consolideront réellement leurs ressources dans la lutte contre les menaces et les risques communs. Si nous ne réussissons pas à le faire, cela voudra dire que même dans le domaine des intérêts communs il y a des lignes de fracture qui nous empêchent de coopérer réellement pour la sécurité", a indiqué le diplomate.

"Bien sûr, nous ne partageons pas le point de vue selon lequel l'Otan ne peut pas déléguer à la Russie la défense de ses propres territoires, la Russie ne faisant pas partie du système lié par l'article cinq du Traité de Washington. A notre avis, cela contredit le principe d'intégrité et de sécurité que nous avons proclamé dans tous les documents de l'OSCE (l'Organisation pour la sécurité et la coopération en Europe) ainsi que dans ceux du Conseil Russie-Otan", a ajouté le représentant permanent de la Russie auprès de l'Otan.

L'article cinq du Traité de Washington prévoit que si un Allié de l'Otan est victime d'une attaque armée, chacun des autres membres de l'Alliance considérera cet acte de violence comme une attaque armée contre l'ensemble des membres et prendra les mesures qu'il juge nécessaires pour apporter une assistance à l'Allié attaqué.

2012-11-17 By Captain (R) Fabrice Maronneaud (FRA)

Answering a joint request from Allied Command Transformation (ACT) and NATO Reserve Forces Committee (NRFC), the French Presidency of CIOR organized a working session on the following themes: “Reserve Forces and Smart Defence / Connected Forces Initiative,” and “Employer support to Military Reserves”.

Some fifty representatives of thirty-four member-countries and associate CIOR members were invited to attend. The seminar was held in cooperation with ANORGEND (1) and UNOR (2), and with the logistical support of Gendarmerie Nationale HQ. It concluded on Saturday with the opportunity for participants to meet representatives of the French National Assembly and of the Parliamentary Defence Committee at the French National Assembly.

CIOR President, Commander (R) Richard Roll (left) and delegates were welcomed by General Richard Lizurey (center), Deputy Director General of the Gendarmerie Nationale and General Jean-Philippe Danède (right) in charge of Gendarmerie Nationale Reserves. After a visit of the operations centre of the Gendarmerie Nationale, delegates met for an intensive working session. The aim was to provide a substantial framework for the agenda of CIOR committees and workshops bearing on the concepts of « SMART DEFENSE » and employer support to military reserve. CIOR's French Presidency will make provisions for the publication of the final output of working groups.

(1) ANORGEND : Association Nationale des Officiers de Réserve de la Gendarmerie Nationale
(2) UNOR : Union Nationale des Officiers de Réserve

(Photos by Captain (Navy) Henry E. Plimack, USCGR (Ret))

  CIOR-IBM-Paris-Symposium-Working-Group-Nov-2012.pdf

  CIOR-IBM-PARIS-DEFSEC-2012-11-17.pdf

03/12/2012 Ministère de la Défense

Trente-quatre nationalités, une cinquantaine de représentants, deux jours de réflexion et de discussions : du 15 au 17 novembre 2012 s’est tenue la session de travail intermédiaire d’automne de la Confédération interalliée des officiers de réserves au siège de la Direction générale de la gendarmerie nationale.

Depuis qu’elle a pris la présidence tournante de la Confédération interalliée des officiers de réserve (Cior), c’est la première réunion de l’organisation que la France organise. Du 15 au 17 novembre 2012, la Cior tenait sa session de travail d’automne à la Direction générale de la gendarmerie nationale (DGGN). La réunion, organisée en coopération avec l’Association nationale des officiers de réserve de la gendarmerie nationale et l’Union nationale des officiers de réserve, a été clôturée par la visite de l’Assemblée Nationale, sous l’égide de la Commission de la Défense et des Forces armées.

En réponse à une sollicitation du Commandement interallié pour la transformation (ACT) et du Comité des forces de réserve nationales (CFRN) de l’Alliance atlantique, la présidence de la Cior a axé sa session de travail sur les thèmes suivants : « Initiative d’interconnexion des forces » et « Soutien de l’employeur à la réserve militaire ». Ce dernier thème s’inscrit dans le cadre plus large de la réflexion sur la Défense intelligente (Smart Defence), au centre des débats lors du sommet de l’Otan à Chicago en mai 2012. La France, qui préside la Cior pour deux ans, a décidé de s’inscrire totalement dans les thématiques actuelles de l’Otan et souhaite mettre en exergue la plus-value indéniable que peut apporter le monde de la réserve à ces réflexions indispensables à l’évolution de la Défense.

Les délégués et le président de la Cior, le commissaire en chef de la Marine Richard Roll, ont été accueillis par le général de corps d’armée Richard Lizurey, major général la Gendarmerie Nationale. Etait également présent le général de division Jean-Philippe Danede, délégué aux réserves de la gendarmerie. Les délégués ont pu également visiter le centre opérationnel de la Gendarmerie Nationale.

 La Confédération interalliée des officiers de réserve

La Cior représente les intérêts de plus de 1,3 million de réservistes dans 36 pays participants, membres de l'Otan et autres. Il s'agit de l'organisation militaire regroupant le plus grand nombre d'officiers de réserve au monde. La Cior, en plus d'être un think tank fournissant un appui de premier plan à l'Otan en matière de réserve, assure par ailleurs des actions de formation majeures, contribuant ainsi au développement professionnel des réserves.

La structure de la Cior est définie par une constitution qui prévoit une présidence tournante et l'organisation de ses travaux au sein de comités chargés d'examiner et d'analyser les questions liées aux forces de réserve.