EXERTER (Security of Explosives pan-European Specialist Network) research project. Annual Workshop (AWS) 2019

EXERTER project is a five years European Union Funded H2020 research project which seeks to connect practitioners into a pan-European network of explosives specialists. Project aims at identifying and promoting innovative methodologies, tools and technologies that will offer solutions in the fight against terrorism and serious crime, enhancing the overall Security of Explosives. The core of the EXERTER network brings together experts coming from Law Enforcement Agencies (LEA), Military Institutes, Governmental and Civilian Research centers, Academia and Standards Organizations. An End user and Expert Community (EEC) has been established for improvement of this aims.

Each year, EXERTER Workshop will focus on a real scenario with connection to Security of Explosives, and this first year has been the Oslo bombing attack on 22 July 2011. Along workshop, it has been received and discussed information on all phases of explosive attack, rising gaps and shortfalls in prevent, detect, mitigate and react phases. Current EU actions as more strict explosives precursors ‘legislation and better international LE coordination could have reduced or prevented the Oslo attack.

Mobile Training Team

On 21-23 May 2019 a C-IED COE led Mobil Training Team (MTT) conducted a C-IED training event at NATO HQ of the Multinational Corps Northeast (MNC NE) in Poland. The MTT consist of three SMEs from the C-IED COE staff and additional externals from NATO JFC Brunssum and the Netherland national C-IED center (NLD DEC C-IED). The training was designed to give better understanding of the C-IED approach and to support the NATO HQ MNC NE to establish the multi-domain and cross-function mindset. Additional aim was to identify how to counter IED threat in NATO Article IV and V scenarios, and in hybrid warfare environment. The training audience came from the staff of NATO HQ MNC NE and its subordinate NFIUs, DIVs and Host Nations. Based on the well-developed briefings and very active discussions, training achieved the intended end state.

4th Maritime Operations ADC

During the 27th -28th May, the Maritime Operation Annual Discipline Conference (ADC) meeting took place in the CSW COE in Kiel (Germany). This meeting consisted in assess the adequacy of the E&T Program, the current individual and collective solutions used to satisfy up-to-date NATO Educational and Training requirements in Maritime Operations discipline.

During the event, there were no new NATO E&T requirements in the Maritime Operations Discipline and the TRA (Training Requirement Analysis) was reviewed and updated with the support of all the stakeholders’ representatives.  

The 7th meeting of the SET-238 Research Task Group (RTG), “Side-Attack Threat Detection Strategies, Technologies and Techniques,” was held at the DLR, Microwaves and Radar Institute, Weßling, Bavaria, Germany on 15-16 May 2019. The meeting included a total of 6 participants representing 4 nations, DEU, GBR, NLD, USA, and Counter-IED (C-IED) COE. DLR presented an overview of the organization and capabilities. The group was also taken on a tour of the facilities and given more in depth presentations of projects being researched. Final results of some of the technologies were presented. The introduction, TTPs and threat sections of the report have already been written. The Netherlands and one of the German technologies already has a draft of their respective technologies. All draft pieces are due to the chairperson by mid-October so that the report can be compiled and an executive summary can be drafted. The final report is expected by the Spring of 2020.No pictures were taken during this meeting.