Category Archives: NATO

Satellites and mobile phones, built on international standards, help the world get connected. But the communications technology we use on land does not work well underwater. As water covers over 70 per cent of the earth's surface, NATO has sponsored research into establishing the first ever digital underwater communications standard.

Imagine a scuba diver approaching the surface, being made aware of nearby boating activity; or a submarine communicating with a land-based command post; or an underwater robot sending a warning to an oil rig after a leak is detected the possible applications of underwater communications are limitless.

It could be used in many areas: for harbour protection, maritime surveillance, mine detection, surveying offshore wind farms and pipelines, or even underwater archaeology.

The NATO Science and Technology Organizations Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation (CMRE, see below for more info) has developed a standard for underwater acoustic communications called JANUS, which is recognised as a NATO standard by all NATO Allies since 24 March 2017. This marks the first time that a digital underwater communication protocol has been acknowledged at international level and opens the way to develop many exciting underwater communication applications.

A network of marine robots

CMRE is working to support effective underwater communication networks to allow undersea robots to work together and report back home (see the infographic on Digital Underwater Networked Communications).

"Robots can behave intelligently and act as a team," says Joo Alves, Principal Scientist and Project Leader at CMRE. For example, one of the robots could find some interesting feature and call the rest of the team.

With effective undersea communication, this can all happen in an autonomous way, without requiring direct human intervention. If needed, the operation can be managed by land-based engineers who monitor all the communications from a command and control room ashore. The connection to land is made through gateway buoys on the surface of the water equipped with radio links to local support platforms or satellites.

This is particularly important for search-and-rescue operations, says John Potter, a scientist at the CMRE Strategic Development Office. Autonomous vehicles are relatively inexpensive and of course unmanned, so they can be sent to do dirty, dangerous jobs.

Sound is known to have an impact on marine life, said Joo Alves. Aware of this risk, the Centre works with biologists and other scientists to protect the marine environment.

Much of this development work is carried out on the Littoral Ocean Observatory Network, or LOON (see below for more info). The LOON is a test facility, installed in the harbour of La Spezia, Italy that plays a central role in NATO projects, many of which are developed in partnership with the European Commission.

CMRE uses the LOON to develop and test communication solutions that contribute to the protection and monitoring of oceans and rivers by underwater robots.

JANUS, the standard underwater language

To be able to communicate with each other, underwater assets need common standards. In the air we can simply connect our gadgets to any WiFi hotspot without having to worry about the compatibility, says Joo Alves. Until now, there wasnt anything even remotely similar for the underwater domain.

As with the industry standard for WiFi communication, an undersea communication standard has to be defined in order to guarantee the interoperability between equipment from different manufacturers.

For the past ten years, CMRE has been working on the development of the first international digital underwater communication protocol, known as JANUS, which is now an approved NATO standard.

JANUS was a Roman god of openings and gateways, says John Potter. Thats why it is called JANUS, because this language opens the portal between two domains, two different operating paradigms, through which they can talk.

It is a digital underwater signalling system that can be used to contact underwater devices using a common format; announce the presence of a device to reduce conflicts; and enable a group of underwater devices (that can be underwater robots, submarines, divers or any other equipment operating under the surface) to organise themselves into a network, adds John Potter.

Adopted globally, JANUS can make military and civilian, NATO and non-NATO devices interoperable, providing them all with a common language with which to communicate and arrange to cooperate.

JANUS has been extensively tested at sea in exercises involving a number of partners (universities, industries and research institutions) covering a range of application scenarios. Close collaboration with NATO Allies has been particularly fruitful in developing JANUS for use in cases that may improve the safety of maritime operations.

For example, the Portuguese Navy has been working with CMRE to develop new concepts to support the exchange of crucial information with submarines (typically only available at the surface via radio) such as the location of nearby ships. Digital data exchanges to support rescue operations in case of a submarine incident are currently also being developed.

Littoral Ocean Observatory Network an underwater test bed

NATO Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation

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A new era of digital underwater communications - NATO HQ (press release)

Financial Times

Germany edges towards greater Nato role with troops in Lithuania Financial Times Political and practical issues mean it will take time for country to meet US demands. and more »

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Germany edges towards greater Nato role with troops in Lithuania - Financial Times

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) This year marks the 64th NATO Festival and this year, the sky is the limit.

Frances aerobatic jet team, Patrouille de France, is operating out of Chambers Field at Naval Station Norfolk from April 26 through April 30.

Each aircraft includes a painting of a French flag in red, white and blue. The Patrouille de France is the oldest Navy precision flight demonstration team. Theyre making a stop in the mermaid city to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the U.S. entry into World War I.

The teams maneuvers are similar to those of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. During their performances, the jets use red, white and blue smoke.

Major of the French Air Force Nicolas Lieumont says he is pleased to show his skill in America.

We are here to show the skills of the French Air Force airmen, said Major Lieumont. Its a great honor to be in another country to show the French skills, especially in the United States, which is one of our greatest allies.

The team hasnt performed in the U.S. in three decades.

General Denis Mercier, the Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, shares the same sentiment. He works at the NATO headquarters in Norfolk.

We all together are ready to fight for better peace and security in our world and this is a demonstration of that and based on that, we can build a strong friendship and we have this possibility, said General Mercier. This festival is a way to put together the Hampton Roads community and all the people who will come to Norfolk for the festival and the military communities.

Along with the flying jets, you can expect 100 parade floats, bands and high school and military floats representing each of the 28 NATO member nations.

The City of Norfolk says nearby residents may see and hear the jets during their five day stay.

We are honored to have the Patrouille de France visiting Norfolk, the city said in a news release Friday.This is the first time in over three decades the team has performed in the United States, and it is here this month to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the U.S. entry into World War I and support the citys annual NATO Fest.

We come here to thank the American people for the friendship and the brotherhood that we have between our two countries, said Major Lieumont.

NATO Festival events open to the public:

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Annual NATO Festival in downtown Norfolk includes foreign guest - WAVY-TV

Members of the first-ever Ukrainian team for the international Invictus Games visited NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on 24 April 2017. Their participation in the games is being supported by a NATO Trust Fund project on Medical Rehabilitation.

The visiting group included war veterans and disabled servicemen who have fought in eastern Ukraine since the outbreak of the conflict in 2014. They were winners of the Ukrainian Games of Heroes competition held to select Team Ukraine for this years Invictus Games. Named Invictus, after the Latin for "unconquered" or "undefeated", the Games provide a venue for disabled veterans and servicemen and women to compete in sporting events such as wheelchair basketball, sitting volleyball, and indoor rowing. Established by Prince Harry, the first event took place in 2014 in London, the United Kingdom. This years event will be taking place in Toronto, Canada in September.

The visitors met representatives of NATOs International Staff as well as member states to discuss issues ranging from NATO-Ukraine relations to current and future security challenges. It is better to see once than hearing a hundred times, one of the participants said. They also made a presentation on the Games of Heroes competition and participated in a special CrossFit session. During their trip, they also visited Allied Joint Force Command in Brunssum, the Netherlands.

On the occasion of the nomination of Team Ukraine for Toronto, at a gala concert in Kyiv on 23 April, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko expressed his thanks for the support provided to Ukrainian servicemen and women in the area of medical and psychological rehabilitation under the NATO Trust Fund.

To coincide with the visit, the Ukrainian Mission to NATO organised a photo exhibit entitled Children in War, which gave a glimpse into the lives of the many Ukrainian children who have suffered as a consequence of the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

Opening the exhibit, Vice-Prime Minister Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze underlined the magnitude of the conflicts impact on children: it is estimated that 200 have been killed and 500 wounded; 250,000 are among the internally displaced people and 50,000 are without access to school.

As NATO Assistant Secretary General for Public Dipomacy Tacan Ildem underlined, Exhibits like this remind us that we should not and must not forget about the children. They remind us that while the plight of these children may not make the news each day, it is them who are bearing much of the pain and trauma of war. It is them who will have to deal with the aftermath of whats happening today.

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NATO - News: Honouring Ukraine's Invictus Team and children ... - NATO HQ (press release)

Russia is still trying to undermine Montenegros NATO membership with continued cyber attacks after last years failed coup attempt, but no one can stop the tiny Balkan nation from joining as early as next month, the countrys defense minister said.

Lawmakers in the Adriatic state of 630,000 people will formally agree to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization on Friday, Predrag Boskovic said in an interview in the capital, Podgorica. All 28 NATO members have given consent except for Spain, which is expected to do so this week. Montenegro hopes to attend the alliances May 25 summit as a full member, he said.

Montenegros Defense Minister Predrag Boskovic, right, attends a NATO meeting in February.

Photographer: Emmanuel Dunand/AFP via Getty Images

The approval signals a years-long shift in geopolitical loyalties for the former Yugoslav republic, which has historically shared religious and cultural ties with Russia. Adding its 200 miles of shoreline will clinch NATOs nearly complete control over the northern Mediterranean. Russia isnt backing down, though. After Montenegro accused Moscow for trying to overthrow the government and assassinate the prime minister during last years elections -- an allegation Russia denies -- its institutions are coming under attack by hackers believed to be backed by the Kremlin, he said.

Neither Russia, nor any other country, can change our course, Boskovic, 45, said in his office on Tuesday. Joining todays 28 most advanced economies, the most advanced civilizations, is a step necessary for Montenegro, for it to become part of the Western world and ensure long-term stability and security.

Montenegros accusations coincide with warnings from other European nations that Russia is stepping up efforts to infiltrate rival governments and influence politics across the continent. Denmarks defense minister was cited on Sunday as saying Russian hackers gained access to military emails, while French presidential front-runner Emmanuel Macrons campaign has been hit by cyber attacks resembling those used against Democratic Party organizations in the U.S.

Boskovic said his ministry is trying to defend against cyber attacks on a daily basis against state institutions and computers of military officers containing classified data. That follows Montenegrin prosecutors indictment this month of 14 people, including two Russians, for trying to seize the parliament, kill the countrys most powerful politician, Milo Djukanovic, and install a pro-Russian administration.

Russia has its interests and has shown that in a most direct way, he said. Of course its the Kremlin. Thats a fact.

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Montenegros pro-Russian opposition wants to stop NATO entry and wants a referendum on joining. But the government will avoid a vote because it knows the countrys citizens would reject it,Andrija Mandic, of the opposition Democratic Front, said in an interview. He also rejected the governments accusations against Vladimir Putins government, dismissing the overthrow attempt as a fake coup meant to raise support for Djukanovic, who won the vote last October and formed a coalition cabinet.

By letting Montenegro join, NATO is showing it wants to tighten its grip on the Balkans, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in Moscow on Wednesday.

The military potential of Podgorica is close to zero, though its geographical position permits a strengthening of control over the Balkans, Shoigu said.

Russia has a point. Montenegros has just 1,950 soldiers, two aging frigates, 13 helicopters and two light jets. The country currently spends 1.66 percent of gross domestic product on its forces -- below the NATOs 2 percent requirement, but it plans to hit the target by 2020, or even perhaps this year if it buys new choppers, Boskovic said.

Montenegro is aware of its size, he said. But what matters more is that we want to contribute to making the traditionally turbulent Balkans a more secure place.

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Russia Is Trying, But It Can't Stop NATO Entry, Montenegro Says ... - Bloomberg

(CNN) Americas newest weapon, the F-35, in the skies over Eastern Europe, right where confrontations with Russia frequently happen: CNN was given exclusive access to the U.S. Stealth combat jets first ever forward deployment training with allied air forces.

Major Bryan Blackburn, of the U.S. Air Force said it was an essential experience for the crews. Were continuing to forward deploy and bolster our NATO allies. Its all about inter cooperation and just bolstering the NATO Alliance.

A tanker plane refueled the F-35 as they transited to Estonia, A country right on the border with Russia and worried about Moscows aggressive posture in recent years. With the deployment of the F-35 the U.S. is sending a very clear message to both Russia and its NATO partners: That America is willing to commit its newest and most advanced planes to keep its partners safe.

Russias air force is increasingly flying planes, like the nuclear capable TU-95 bomber, around this area. NATO jets often scrambling to intercept them. President Donald Trump has only recently stopped calling the NATO alliance obsolete.

Now the F-35 deployment, another welcome sign of American commitment, Estonias Defense Minister, Margus Tsahkna said, This is important to send this message that this is the border of NATO. This is the Eastern border of our values that we are ready to protect.

As part of this deployment the F-35 crews get to know this contested air space and practice cooperation with other NATO air forces. As tensions with Moscow show no sign of easing, this plane could become a staple of NATOs eastern fringe.

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U.S. sends F-35 aircraft to easternmost NATO border - wwlp.com

ALBACETE AIR BASE, Spain --

Eight F-16 aircraft and more than 200 Airmen from the 388th Fighter Wing and 419th FW from Hill Air Force Base, Utah, are currently at Albacete Air Base, Spain, to participate in the NATO Tactical Leadership Programme through May 19.

TLP is an annual NATO Mission Commanders School training program and is designed to provide joint training to increase NATO air defense with participating allies.

The Tactical Leadership Program is a good opportunity for all the participating nations to work together, said Master Sgt. Daniel LaBrake, Combined Aerospace Logistics Coordinator and the only enlisted member from the U.S. Air Force stationed at the Spanish air base.

Hills fighter wings will participate in training with NATO allied air forces from ten other countries.

This is excellent training with some intense air operations and top of the line NATO jets from our coalition allies, said Lt. Col. Surya Frickel, 466th Fighter Squadron commander.

During the large force exercise, the Hill AFB pilots will fly alongside 20-30 allied aircraft daily and against as many adversaries. Part of the learning that goes on is how to operate safely with the different aircraft and unfamiliar environments, as well as different languages and procedures.

This exercise is a good example of the United States cooperation and long-lasting commitment to the security of Europe and maintaining readiness with our NATO allies, Frickel said.

Though the wings have been on several training deployments together, this is the first time Utahs 419th and 388th FWs are participating in TLP.

Traditionally, squadrons stationed in Europe participate in TLP, LaBrake said. So it has been a new challenge to coordinate all of the moving parts so these Airmen can come overseas and get this experience.

The deployment marks the last time the iconic multi-role fighter is scheduled to deploy from Hill AFB. F-16 aircraft from Hill's fighter wings have been flying over the skies of northern Utah for nearly 40 years.

This is the last time the F-16 will deploy with the Hill designator HL painted on its tail, said Col. Michael Miles, 388th Maintenance Group commander. We are extremely proud of the job we have done with the F-16 and we must do our best here at TLP to preserve the memory of the aircraft that is so dear to our hearts.

Hills fleet of F-16s is being replaced by the Air Forces newest fighter jet, the F-35 Lightning II. The first operational F-35As arrived at Hill AFB in October 2015. Hill currently has 20 F-35As and will eventually be home to three operational squadrons by the end of 2019. The 388th and 419th FWs fly and maintain the aircraft in a Total Force partnership, which capitalizes on the strength of both components.

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NATO exercise last deployment for Hill F-16s - Minuteman

President Trump admitted he did not know much about NATO when he first called it obsolete on the campaign trail last year, he told theAssociated Press.

They had a quote from me that NATO's obsolete. But they didn't say why it was obsolete. I was on Wolf Blitzer, very fair interview, the first time I was ever asked about NATO, because I wasn't in government. People don't go around asking about NATO if I'm building a building in Manhattan, right? Trump said to the AP, according to a full transcript published lateSunday.

So they asked me, Wolf ... asked me about NATO, and I said two things. NATO's obsolete not knowing much about NATO, now I know a lot about NATO NATO is obsolete, and I said, And the reason it's obsolete is because of the fact they don't focus on terrorism. You know, back when they did NATO, there was no such thing as terrorism, Trump continued.

NATO also made a change to itsterrorism blueprintin 2012, when it stated that the Alliance strives at all times to remain aware of the evolving threat from terrorism; to ensure it has adequate capabilities to prevent, protect against, and respond to terrorist threats.

Trump first criticized NATO during an interview with The Washington Post's editorial board in March 2016, saying NATO as a concept is good, but it is not as good as it was when it first evolved.

Following the March 22, 2016, terrorist attacks in Brussels, where at least 35 were killed and more than 300 injured, Trump toldABC Newshe thought NATO was obsolete.

"NATO was done at a time you had the Soviet Union, which was obviously larger much larger than Russia is today, he said, adding that the alliance should be readjusted to take care of terrorism.

But earlier this month, at a joint press conference with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, Trump said the alliance is no longer obsolete.

Trump said he will continue to work closely with NATO allies, particularly when it comes to fighting terrorism.

But he also said, I complained about that a long time ago and they made a change and now they do fight terrorism.

I said it was obsolete, he continued. It is not longer obsolete.

At the time, Trump also reiterated his call for NATO allies to meet their financial obligations and pay what they owe.

Trump will attend a NATO summit in Brussels on May 25.

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Trump didn't know 'much' about NATO when he called it 'obsolete': report - The Hill

From Donald Trump, explaining why he said NATO was obsolete during the campaign:

I was on Wolf Blitzer, very fair interview, the first time I was ever asked about NATO, because I wasn't in government. People don't go around asking about NATO if I'm building a building in Manhattan, right? So they asked me, Wolf ... asked me about NATO, and I said two things. NATO's obsolete not knowing much about NATO, now I know a lot about NATO NATO is obsolete, and I said, "And the reason it's obsolete is because of the fact they don't focus on terrorism."

This is not the first time Trump has said something like this. I wonder if he even realizes that it sounds bad when he admits he was just blathering during the campaign because he didn't know what he was talking about?

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Quote of the Day: I Only Said NATO Was Obsolete Because I Didn't Know Anything About NATO - Mother Jones

Executive Summary

For the first time, research shall focus on NATOS so-called secret armies, and explain the notion of the Stay-Behind networks by shedding light on the architecture of cooperation that supported those networks. The study highlights the ongoing criminalization of the Stay-Behind networks since the 1990s, in part a result of the extreme confusion in public opinion about these structures established at the end of World War II, and the lack of knowledge of how NATO operates as well as its intelligence capabilities.

The difficulty in understanding the notion of the Stay-Behind networks results from the way revelations about the Italian network were released, leading to a series of press investigations that purported to show the collusion of these networks with the Italian far-right. Such a story was an attractive explanation, but it was far from the truth. Indeed, there never was any such collusion. In order to understand these clandestine structures, one must first take into account the geopolitical contingencies that existed at the end of the Second World War.

The Stay-Behind networks were first a solution that emerged from the lessons learnt by the European Chiefs of Staff during the conflict. Accordingly, a French-British model appeared in North Western Europe, aimed at intelligence work and the infiltration/exfiltration of agents, rather than any attempts at sabotage or guerrilla warfare. It was quite different from the networks developed by the Americans in Germany and Italy that were more action-oriented. An attempt to combine the two concepts was made by the Clandestine Planning Committee, a structure that brought together the intelligence services of NATO but it did not succeed; this failure invalidates somewhat the idea of NATOs secret armies. Indeed, the states concerned found themselves in very different geographical situations and were confronted with specific national political contingencies.

They thus took action according to their means and their objectives, which restricted NATO-level coordination between the intelligence services involved in the Stay-Behind networks.

It was at the heart of the Western European Union (WEU) and not NATO that the intelligence services of Great Britain, France, Benelux and Scandinavia hid the existence of the Western Union Clandestine Committee. This body was not aimed at coordinating but rather supporting the establishment of Stay-Behind networks. The United States received a makeshift role, but they continued to run networks they had founded in Germany and Italy in their own way, that served US objectives. At the heart of NATO, they sought to turn the Clandestine Committee into a coordination center, but the intelligence services of Northern and Western Europe in return presented an Allied Coordination Committee, aimed at exchanging best practices with regard to member state Stay-Behind networks.

Though they managed to preserve the initial concept that combined intelligence, infiltration/exfiltration and action, they however failed to stop NATO from developing a new concept, that of the Special Forces. This shift can be explained by the growing influence of the Americans within the integrated military organization and their desire to prepare the fight against the Warsaw Pact. But this evolution would not always be of concern for the United Kingdom, France, Benelux and the Scandinavian countries. These countries were to be impacted by the reduction in US funding for the Stay-Behind program as of 1965 and they would have to undergo the consequences of the revelations, first revealed by Soviet spies, then by the media, that would lead to the gross misunderstandings surrounding the Stay-Behind concept.

Click here to read the full report.(pdf)

PhD in Contemporary History and International Relations, a former auditor with the National Defence Institute of Higher Education (IHEDN), Grald Arboitis director of research at the French Center for Intelligence Research (CF2R) and teaches at various French universities (Colmar, Strasbourg, Metz).

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NATO's Stay-Behind Networks. The Truth Regarding NATO's Secret Armies - Center for Research on Globalization