NATO approves 'Smart Defense'

19:19, 3 February 2012

BRUSSELS. February 3. KAZINFORM The NATO defense ministers approved on Friday the Smart Defense plan consisting of the projects that aim to "build greater security with fewer resources but more coordination and coherence."

The initiatives, proposed by the NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, include building defense capabilities, based on cutting-edge technology - intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR) as well as logistics and training.

"Allies are discussing a number of projects which will deliver real improvements and make maximum use of the limited resources we have", Rasmussen said. "By the time we meet in Chicago, I would expect us to have political agreement on a significant number of projects, as well as a longer term approach, which sees Smart Defense at the hub of the way we do business."

ISR technology includes among others the development of advanced drones, satellite observation capabilities and battlefield surveillance.

Among other top priority issues of the Smart Defense plan, NATO names projects for air-to-air refueling, remote-controlled vehicles that make it possible to open routes in environments with improvised explosive devices and logistics support projects for helicopters and maritime patrol aircraft, Kazinform has learned from RIA Novosti.

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