
Success criterion of such meetings is their practical charge. In recent years many countries in the world have faced with vicious threat of International Terrorism. Joint meetings is a type of cooperation in exchanging ideas, getting to know advanced military and police equipment of other countries, and sharing experience in its practical application.
The Law Enforcement and Counter Terrorism technologies and techniques introduced to the US-Russian Forum II participants were the last word in science and engineering.
In the opening statement militia lieutenant-general Novikov, the Deputy Ministry of the Russian Interior, mentioned the sharp growth in the technical level of tools terrorists have recently used, which caused the rise in cynical and cruel attacks resulted in mass casualties. For efficient counteraction law enforcement agencies of different countries are to coordinate their effort, share advanced technologies and experience in the fight against terrorism.
Cheryl Nolan,(Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Office of Justice programs) also emphasized the importance of US-Russian co-operation between law enforcement agencies in scientific and research activity.
"Ways and Engineered Means of Anti-Terrorist Activity" was the first day topic. The Engineering and Technological Institute of Geophysical and Ecological Instrument Making Industry, Siberian Branch of the Russian Science Academy, presented a new-developed portable express gas and neutron activation analyzer for detecting potentially dangerous objects.
A group of non-governmental enterprises ECMC-UTTA introduced a non-linear radio-locator NK900 EK "Eagle" It was a handheld unit for detecting radio-controlled blast devices and other equipment containing semi-conductor elements in both manual-on and off positions.
Special Materials, Ltd. General Director, Doctor of Technical Science, Professor Silnikov M.V. made a presentation on "Bomb Inhibitors and Their Practical Application as Effective Tools for Terrorist Blast Protection" and introduced "Fountain" line of blast inhibitors based on a fundamentally new technology. The "Fountain" placed over an explosive device reduces the blast shock wave due to a mitigating medium filling the blast inhibitor. The gas-liquid mitigating medium also suppresses the resulted fireball and significantly decreases the number of debris.
So called "dirty bomb" is considered to be the most dangerous. Its detonating charge is only a delivery system for spreading radioactive, poison or contaminating substances. The blast inhibitor 'Fountain is an effective tool in containing harmful effects of dirty bombs. The very first day of the US-Russian Forum II the participants could observe the demonstrational testing of the blast inhibitors performed at the firing range. The "Fountain" proved its efficiency in mitigating overpressure and high antifragmentation and thermal suppression capability. Explosive devices with the heating value equal to dozens kg of TNT were detonated. The first detonation was performed without the blast inhibitor. A 40-meter diameter fireball was observed and a loud sound of a blast wave was unbearable. .Detonation of a similar explosive device covered in the "Fountain" resulted in no fireball at all. The demonstrational testing obviously showed that the blast inhibitor initially designed for 1 kg TNT blast effect mitigation could efficiently suppress an air- fuel explosion.
The issues of US presentations on "Intermodal Transportation and Pilot Security Pilot Project SeaHawk Task Force and Charleston Harbor Operations Center Executive Summary"(James Alton Cannon Jr., Charleston County Sheriff's Office, Charleston County Sheriff) and "Transit Security (Subways, above Ground etc.)"(Lt. Maslin & Lt. Metzger, SEPTA Transit Police Department) were also discussed in Russian presentation on "Administration Measures and Engineered Means for Counter Terrorism Activity in Russia. Airplane and Metro Safety Systems" (A.S. Ushakov, "Pulkovo Airline"; S.A. Baranov, St. Petersburg Metro). Presentation on "Application of Neutron and Radiation Analyzers for Detecting any Types of Concealed Explosives in Various Locations" (Golovin A.N., Stepanov E.A, "Pulkovo" Transportation Administration; U. I. Olshanskiy, A.B. Vishnevkin, SEC "RATEK") was devoted to the new developed line of preflight passenger luggage examination in "Pulkovo" Airport.
US presentation on "USA Standards for Body Armor"(CHENEGA Technology Services Cooperation, Anchorage, USA) and Russian presentation on "Personal Protection against Blast Trauma"("NPO SM", Russia) supplemented each other. SILNIKOV M.V noted that Russian and US standards for body armor now did not coincide and it would have been reasonable to work out comparable and comprehensive system of the standards.
"NPO Special Materials" demonstrated an exhibition of body armor and equipment they produced. "NPO SM" manufactured a family of "Module" body armor that had saved thousands of police officers' lives.
Working group "Means of Individual and Public Protection" performed comparative trials of armor inserts with fire and cold steel weapons in the "NPO SM" Testing Facility. Concurrently, for the working group "Explosives &Terrorism" operation capabilities of a non-linear radio-locator NK900 EK "Eagle and scout- robot developed by the Central Institute of Robotic and Cybernetics were demonstrated.
At a firing-range facility of a Special Force Brigade (the Russian Federation Interior Ministry) the participants had a chance to present at the military training drills on searching and terminating a criminal armed group. The armed forces personal supported by armored troop carriers successfully overcame a fire-assault course and an obstacle course, forced the criminals out of a "settlement" and terminated the criminal firm base. The training operation was commented by theCommander, lieutenant-general Lvov A.G (the North-Western Interior Ministry Military District) and his Deputy lieutenant-general Dashkov P.P.After the training drills the participants visited the Museum of the Brigade, placed flowers on the monuments to the Brigade soldiers killed during anti-terrorist operations.
For the Brigade officers US participants prepared two presentations: on US Special Force operations in Ale-Fallujar in Iraq (Colonel retired A. Gembara) and on training methods in US Navy Special Forces (Richard Marcinko founder of SEAL TEAM SIX and RED CELL).
The final day of the forum was devoted to the shearing experience in law enforcement professional training. The participants visited the North Western Federal District Headquarters of the Russian Interior Ministry and St. Petersburg Interior Ministry University. Russian presentation on "Training System of Russian Law Enforcement Professions. Skills and Professional Carrier Prospects" and US presentations on Prisons and Terrorist Training (Allen Ault, EKU) and on Community Policing (Gary Cordner, IJSI, EKU) were of great interest. The Participants had a tour round the University and visited lectures.
All participants were satisfied with the information and technological exchange during the work of US-Russian Forum II and mentioned the great importance of further development of this type of co-operation. The most important issues that should be considered are modification of standards for the ballistic vests and bomb protective equipment.
The third US-Russian Forum "Law Enforcement Technology and Counter-Terrorism" is to be held in USA on spring 2006. It is planned to organize a Coordination Committee for better information exchange between US- and Russian experts.
The Forum proceedings are being published. Materials can be found in Russian and US periodicals.
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