NATO ISTAR Symposium & Technology Showcase

The NATO Air Command Ramstein is partnering with the U.S. Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) to present this year’s Intelligence, Surveillance, Targeting, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) Symposium and Technology Showcase. This three day event dedicated to ISTAR capabilities will take place at Ramstein Air Base, Germany on 6–8 November 2012.

Recent NATO operations have highlighted the key role ISTAR plays in today’s warfare. Understanding the capabilities, movements, and intentions of our adversaries is critical to successful coalition operations. This can only be achieved through persistent, precise and networked ISTAR.

Additionally, Nations can use ISTAR capabilities to address non-military challenges. Nations increasingly use ISTAR platforms and sensors to patrol borders, counter-illicit trafficking, and respond to natural disasters. ISTAR capabilities protect interests defending National resources and saving lives.

NATO member states continue to modernize their ISTAR platforms, sensors, and systems, but growth in demand is outpacing capability. Nations need to leverage “Smart Defense” principles to expand ISTAR capabilities to successfully anticipate and address future challenges.

The NATO ISTAR Technology Showcase will be held in conjunction with the NATO ISTAR Symposium. The objective for these events is to help Nations identify capability shortfalls and expose NATO personnel to commercial systems and emerging technologies which can close those gaps.

The Technology Showcase portion will be held on Wednesday, 7 November, where U.S. and European defense contractors, specializing in ISTAR systems will gather in a trade expo format. Individual firms will be given the opportunity to present short presentations on their products and programs under development. Government attendees, in a compressed time period, will expand their understanding of available ISTAR systems.

Letter from General Welsh: http://www.ncsi.com/natoistar/2012/docs/welshMemo.pdf