The Joint Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear Defence Capability Development Group (JCBRND-CDG) Autumn Meeting was held in the Stefania Palace - Honved Cultural Centre - Budapest, Hungary from 23 to 26 September 2019.
Approximately 67 participants from 21 NATO Nations, four Partners for Peace (PfP) Nations, Israel and the Republic of Korea (new Interoperability Platform (IP) partners), and representatives from various NATO bodies and organizations 1 attended a four days long meeting to discuss the JCBRND-CDG assessments on capability developments and related standardisation activities.
The Joint Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear Defence Centre of Excellence (JCBRN Defence COE) was represented by Colonel David Martinek (CZE-A), who also served as the chairperson of the Training and Education Panel (TEP). LtCol Bernd Allert (DEU-A) served as the chairperson of the Doctrine and Terminology Panel (DTP); and LtCol Alessandro Scherzo (ITA-A) and LtCol Roman Laimer (AUT-A) participated as Joint Programme of Work (JPOW) custodians.
Aim and Objectives
The JCBRND-CDG aims is to support the development of CBRN defence capabilities using all lines of development focusing on doctrine, materiel, and training as directed by the Military Committee Joint Standardization Board (MCJSB) and NATO Army Armaments Group (NAAG).
The objectives of this meeting were developed in accordance with three work areas of the Group including: (1) information exchange between national experts and NATO bodies, (2) development of interoperability through standardization, and (3) cooperation on multinational equipment programs. Additional focus was placed on:
- developing and maintaining military operational, materiel, and administrative Standardization Documents (STANAGS, STANRECs, APs and others) in support of capability development;
- reviewing documents of other working groups of interest and submitting comments and proposals as necessary;
- managing and prioritizing the JPOW, while ensuring all tasks from the NAAG and MCJSB are included.
Structure
The JCBRND-CDG has seven subordinated panels that cover the responsibilities of the JCBRND-CDG in support of the Alliance’s prevention of the proliferation of WMD and defending against CBRN Threats. The panels are:
- Doctrine and Terminology (DTP);
- Knowledge Management Panel (KMP);
- Detection, Identification and Monitoring Panel (DIMP);
- Physical Protection Panel (PPP);
- Hazard Management Panel (HMP);
- Training and Exercise Panel (TEP);
- Challenge Level Panel (CLP).
Meeting
The JCBRND-CDG was organized in two main parts, (1) NATO/Partners session and (2) NATO Only session. The JCBRND-CDG chair and vice chair, all panel chairpersons, JPOW custodian, and representatives from NATO bodies meet a day prior to the official opening in a chairperson’s format in order to set the groundwork for a successful and meaningful meeting.
The official meeting was opened by the JCRBND-CDG Chairman, Dr. Frank Sabath (DEU), who welcomed all participants to the very beautiful Stefania Palace - Honved Cultural Centre in Budapest, Hungary.
The meeting continued with numerous briefings from different NATO bodies with the following highlights:
- NAAG representative informed the group on non-lethal weapons (NLW) and Directed-energy weapons (DEW) as these “Incapacitating agents” have been and will be a matter of concern in future;
- MCJSB representative informed the group on the current Allied Joint Doctrine Campaign Plan (AJDCP), which can to be found on the protected NATO Standardization Office (NSO);
- International Staff/Emerging Security Challenge Division (Counterterrorism) ESC(CT) representative informed the group on the proposed Defence Against Terrorism Program of Work (DAT POW) projects for 2020 including the NATO CBRN Reachback enhancement project and the exercise PRECISE RESPONSE with a focus on enhancing civil-military cooperation, CBRN medical countermeasures, and innovative technologies;
- Panel chairpersons’ informed the group on their Program of Work and progress on developing new standardisation agreements or proposals related to their respective field of expertise.
The meeting also provided an opportunity to exchange information on recent projects between Nations’ representatives, other NATO bodies and industries. For example, Mr. Dieter Rothbacher from the company Response Solutions Ltd., who visited the JCBRN Defence COE recently, informed the group on “Dry Decontamination”, non-aqueous decontamination solutions.
The JCBRN Defence COE contribution
The JCBRN Defence COE representatives served as chairpersons for two panels, TEP and DTP; actively participated in each panel, and provided the custodian report on the JCBRND-CDG Programme of Work (JPOW) including the Project Cards focusing on future capabilities development.
The JCBRN Defence COE clearly stated, that the Centre will continue its support to JCBRND-CDG by providing Chairpersons (DTP, TEP) and Secretaries (DTP, TEP, DIMP) and other working groups at all levels. Finally, the JCBRN Defence COE advertised the “Discovery Experiment Workshop on Search and Extraction in a CBRN environment”, which will take place from the 5 to 7 November 2019 at the JCBRN Defence COE in Vyskov, Czech Republic.
The next JCRBND-CDG meeting will be held at NATO HQ in Brussels, Belgium, from 24 to 27 February 2020.
Author: LtCol Roman Laimer (AUT-A)
Photo: LtCol Zoltan Vagfoldi (HUN-A, host nation)
1Military Committee Joint Standardization Board (MCJSB); NATO headquarters - International Military Staff (IMS), International Staff/Defence Investment (IS/DI), International Staff/ Political Affairs and Security Policy Division (Arm Control Disablement and WMD Non-Proliferation Centre) (IS/PASP(ACDC) and International Staff/Emerging Security Challenge Division (Counter-Terrorism) (IS/ESC(CT); Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (SACT); Supreme Allied Commander Transformation Staff Element Europe (SHAPE); NATO Standardization Office (NSO), Joint Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Centre of Excellence (JCBRN Defence COE); and Framework Nation Concept (FNC) Cluster CBRN Protection.