Non-Lethal Weapons (NLW) in NATO and National Concepts

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 A report for COMISAF recommended “a ‘deep dive’ to identify non-lethal capabilities and options”, as initial data showed 80-90% reductions in undesired outcomes (own force casualties or civilian casualties) when Non-Lethal Weapons (NLW) were available. The STO/CSO Research Task Group SAS-094 on ‘Analytical Support to the Development and Experimentation of NLW Concepts’ has carried out this deep dive and provided the analysis and data to support effective NLW implementation in NATO.

NATO Forces are facing increasingly complex military operations; current options are often reduced to whether or not to use lethal force.  Technology provides another option - NLW - which allows battlefield commanders to disable potential adversaries and gain time.  For more than a decade NATO has had an active interest in NLW, with the North Atlantic Council identifying NLW as a “critical, additional capability needed in order to meet the demands of future operations.”

The SAS-094 research team collaborated deeply with other NATO Bodies, most notably with the NATO Defense Against Terrorism Programme, NATO Army Armaments Group and the NATO Industrial Advisory Group – and externally with several EU and European Defense Agency projects. Early on RTG SAS-094 established a working group for cooperating with other organizations within and outside NATO.  This working group was critical to the success of two NATO Non-lethal Technology Exercises in 2015 and 2016 (NNTEX 15M and NNTEX16L).

In recognition of the tremendous depth, breadth, and creativity of their analytical work and the tangible military benefit for NATO and member nations, the RTG SAS-094 members will be presented the 2017 Science and Technology Scientific Achievement Award.

Published by SAS

11/08/2017