CBRN

Seeing the unseen...

Despite arms control agreements and initiatives, some nations and some non-state actors continue to acquire Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) capabilities. This trend is most pronounced in areas of chronic political instability where the EU may be called upon to mount operations. Additionally there have been many instances of terrorist and other ad hoc groupings that embrace CBRN technologies as a powerful means of pursuing their interests.
At the same time, the continuing process of global industrialisation opens the wider possibilities of accidental release or deliberate misuse of Toxic Industrial Materials (TIM).

To address these risks providing best protection and safety to personnel in EU Crisis Management Operations the EDA has been successfully tackling CBRN capability development issues since the beginning of 2006 with good and tangible results spanning from technology development to the preparation of programmes in accordance with the EDA integrated approach.

Currently two Project Teams (PTs) are addressing this priority capability requirement: the PT CBRN Explosives Ordnance Disposal and the PT CBRN Countermeasures.

The PT CBRN EOD, which started in 2006, has 9 pMS as core members under the lead of Italy. The aim of the project is to forge CBRN and EOD Capabilities, in order to respond to a CBRNE Incident. Main focus of the project team is on concept development and training enhancement. Main deliverables have been the development of a EU concept for CBRN EOD approved by the EU Military Committee in April 2008. It has delivered training standards, a study into dual CBRN / EOD individual Protective Equipment and a CBRN EOD Table Top Exercise. A CBRN training portal where Member States at governmental level can enter their training courses and find the courses they require has been established. A Multi-National CBRN EOD Commanders and Planners Course took place in Jambes, Namur, Belgium in December 2009.

The PT CBRN Countermeasures was established in 2009. Currently the PT has 8 pMS as core members under the lead of Germany and France. The aim of the project is to strengthen European military capabilities to operate successfully and safely in a CBRN environment and to contribute to civilian-led consequence management actions if required. The PT is currently developing a EU Concept on CBRN Countermeasures and conducting a detailed analysis of requirements to conduct CBRN Countermeasures covering the required capability areas of Prevent, Protect, Respond and Recover. As concrete projects main focus is on the area of prevent with the aim to enhance CBRN Situational Awareness. Currently a CBRN Functional Area Service proof-of-concept demonstrator is being prepared and a CBRN Intelligence Analyst’s Course took place in June 2010 at the NBC and Self-Protection School in Sonthofen, Germany.

Already in 2006 a PT Detection Identification and Monitoring (PT DIM) was established to investigate capability shortfalls in the area of Biological DIM as highest priority area. Tangible results were the development of an EU Concept for CBRN DIM, approved by the EU Military Committee and a Common Staff Target (CST) on an Integrated Biological Defence System approved by the EDA SB Capability Directors in March 2009. Building on this work, Member States launched a Category B Project “Biological Equipment Development and Enhancement Programme” (Bio EDEP) in May 2009 at the Steering Board in Defence Ministers’ formation.