The argument for a NATO unmanned aerial systems (UAS) Center of Excellence (CoE) in Romania
The argument for a NATO unmanned aerial systems (UAS) Center of Excellence (CoE) in Romania

Summary/Abstract: Military operations over the last decade have highlighted the importance of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) as a combat multiplier and essential component of National security. The time is now for the NATO Alliance to invest substantially in UAS: it is tomorrow’s combat multiplier of choice. In doing so, NATO should develop a Center of Excellence (COE) within the existing NATO COE framework, to focus on UAS (and counter UAS) technologies. Romania is the ideal location for this UAS COE. First, Romania is a valued NATO Ally which demonstrated unquestionable professionalism in the construct, build and executive leadership of the NATO Human Intelligence (HUMINT) COE in Oradea, Romania. Second, one of Romania’s most valuable assets is the airspace above this expansive country which is not nearly as crowded as the skies belonging to its Western European neighbors. Third, Romania has perhaps the most diverse terrain options in Europe (mountains, plains, fluvial delta, coastline, sea, thickly vegetated forests) to train UAS operators and test the various day/night electro-optical payloads which make UAS a key component in Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions. Fourth, Romania has the technical education platform, IT infrastructure backbone, rapid commercial internet speeds, growing cyber security industry, and demonstrated advances in nationally developed UAS technology needed to sustain a NATO UAS COE. Fifth and finally, Romania is close to the Russian threat and the aggressive military activities of Russian forces in the Black Sea, Donbas, Crimea, Transnistria, and Georgia. A NATO UAS COE in Romania could, as Lieutenant General (retired) “Ben” Hodges suggests, provide the “unblinking eye focused on Russian activities in the Black Sea region.”

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