Military Technology 06/2021

Peace Keeping Operations (UN DPKO). Both commands train thousands of foreign police and military units, in Vicenza or in-country (COESPU is particularly focused on Africa), to conduct duties effectively in accordance with international standards of human rights, safety, and security, even in very challenging situations. They also develop doctrines and standards, and maintain a repository on Lessons Learned and Best Practice. In other instances, the three centres deploy special units in troubled areas, as instructors/supervisors/advisers, and as operating field units, with forces provided by the member states, in addition to normal staffing. The Right Tool There is, however, no silver bullet, no magic wand. When the task is to kill, the most likely solution is an assault rifle or its bigger brothers: machineguns, grenade launchers, cannons. Deterring, stopping, or dis­ abling require very different tools, according to the desired outcome, the range, and the acceptable risk. Convoy, checkpoint and entry point operations primarily require communications, in order to determine, as early as possible, the intent of an approaching subject, before con­ ducting any other possible initiative and escalation of force. Light and sound are used to communicate, assuring attention beyond any possible doubt. Intense, white non-coherent light beams are used, together with green laser dazzlers. The BE Meyers GLARE-MOUT-Plus provides visual warning at 600m and can be used in hand-held or crew-served confi­ gurations. The 200mW laser beam has been extensively used in Iraq and Afghanistan, with over 12,000 units fielded as the US Army GLIS Phase-I Applications for NLW include both counter-personnel and counter-­ materiel, the latter implying the capability to stop/disable a vehicle or equipment without causing permanent injuries to the people inside or around the target, ideally with reversible (i.e. not permanent) damage to the materiel itself. In the case of small drones, the use of NLW is often considered as a ‘no- or low-collateral damage’ solution, to neutralise or destroy the threat without endangering the general public, nor affecting normal activities, including the use of cell-phones, WiFi, GPS navigators, etc. Multinational Security Forces While NLW can be operated by both domestic law enforcement and deployed military units, requirements often diverge, due to different secu­ rity environments and the acceptable level of risk for both the operators and the targets. In Vicenza, Italy, there are three different multinational commands that address policing and security issues. The NATO Stability Policing Center of Excellence (NSP-COE) trains standard military forces to conduct selected police duties in situations where the local law enforcement agencies are unable to operate – such as the aftermath of civil conflict, during NATO- led peacekeeping/stability operations. This includes tasks as varied as riot control, security escort, security sweeps, arrest, search and seizure. The NSP-COE is co-located in the same compound with two other multi­ national units: the European Gendarmerie Force (EuroGendFor), and the US-Italian Center of Excellence for Stability Police Units (COESPU). The latter was created in 2005, following an MoU with the UN Department of The compact GLARE RECOIL (LAU-22U1) provides an unmatched dazzling capability at long range, while maintaining absolute safety of use, thanks to an automatic switch-off sensor in case a subject crosses the ocular hazard distance threshold. (Photo: B E Meyers) 30 · MT 6/2021 THEME: Homeland Security The US Army Engineer R&D Center (ERDC) developed and tested its own solution to stop marauding vehicles, with a non-lethal vehicle barrier system that is lightweight and rapidly deployable by 2-4 soldiers in 15-30 minutes. (Photo: US Army ERDC) The US Marines and Israeli Security Forces have adopted the VENOM, multi-barrel non-lethal launcher, capable of showering an area with dozens of 40mm grenades, with varying payloads. (Photo: Combined Systems, Inc.) f