DTN News - JOINT MILITARY EXERCISE: U.S., NATO Troops Train in Latvia #2 (Images)

DTN News - JOINT MILITARY EXERCISE:  U.S., NATO Troops Train in Latvia #2 (Images)

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by K. V. Seth from reliable sources DTN Defense News
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - September 18, 2014:  In light of the Russian military intervention in Ukraine, the United States is demonstrating its continued commitment to collective security through a series of actions designed to reassure NATO Allies and partners of America's dedication to enduring peace and stability in the region. 


As a first response to demonstrate our commitment to the defense of our Allies, the U.S. augmented its participation in Baltic Air Policing by sending an additional six F-15s to the NATO mission.  Under operation ATLANTIC RESOLVE, U.S. Army Europe forces have deployed to Latvia, along with other Allies in the region, to conduct land forces training.  

* U.S., NATO Troops Train in Latvia - Related Images;

*Link for This article compiled by K. V. Seth from reliable sources DTN Defense News
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DTN News - JOINT MILITARY EXERCISE: U.S., NATO Troops Train in Latvia

DTN News - JOINT MILITARY EXERCISE:  U.S., NATO Troops Train in Latvia

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by K. V. Seth from reliable sources DTN Defense News
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - September 17, 2014:  In light of the Russian military intervention in Ukraine, the United States is demonstrating its continued commitment to collective security through a series of actions designed to reassure NATO Allies and partners of America's dedication to enduring peace and stability in the region. 

As a first response to demonstrate our commitment to the defense of our Allies, the U.S. augmented its participation in Baltic Air Policing by sending an additional six F-15s to the NATO mission.  Under operation ATLANTIC RESOLVE, U.S. Army Europe forces have deployed to Latvia, along with other Allies in the region, to conduct land forces training.  

U.S. and Latvian troops participate in a range of other joint and multilateral exercises, including SABER STRIKE, BALTOPS, and STEADFAST JAZZ.  Latvian soldiers and defense personnel also receive technical training and strategic education in the United States.

As NATO allies, the United States and Latvia are committed to each other’s defense and partner in critical areas around the world.  Latvia contributes important capabilities to the Alliance’s collective security, including the training of U.S.-certified joint terminal attack controllers (JTAC) who coordinate air support for ground units during operations.

 The government of Latvia has recognized the danger of increased cyber threats and is working together with NATO, the European Union, the Baltic states, Nordic states, and the United States to strengthen its cybersecurity.  The United States supports Latvia’s efforts through visits by U.S. experts and Latvian participation in EUCOM- and NATO-sponsored events and U.S.-based training.  The government of Latvia is also a partner in the Freedom Online Coalition, a group of governments collaborating to advance Internet freedom. 

Italian paratroopers listen during rehearsals for an air assault with U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawks, a CH-47 Chinook and AH-64 Apache helicopters during NATO exercise Steadfast Javelin II on Lielvarde Airbase, Latvia, Sept. 7, 2014. 

The helicopter crews are assigned to the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade, and the Italian paratroopers are assigned to the Italian Folgore Parachute Brigade. 

The exercise, which involves more than 2,000 troops from nine nations, takes place across Estonia, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland.

A U.S. soldier, second from left, briefs Italian paratroopers during rehearsals for an air assault during NATO exercise Steadfast Javelin II on Lielvarde Airbase, Latvia, Sept. 7, 2014. The soldier is assigned to the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade.

*Link for This article compiled by K. V. Seth from reliable sources DTN Defense News
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DTN News - UKRAINE CRISIS: US Deploys Fighter Jets In Poland And Lithuania Amid Ukrainian Turmoil

DTN News - UKRAINE CRISIS: US Deploys Fighter Jets In Poland And Lithuania Amid Ukrainian Turmoil

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by K. V. Seth from reliable sources RT
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - March 11, 2014: The US is sending a dozen F-16 fighter jets and nearly 300 service personnel to Poland by Thursday as part of a training exercise in response to the crisis in neighboring Ukraine, the Polish defense ministry confirmed.

The agreement to deploy US military forces in Poland was made between US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, and Poland’s Minister of National Defense Tomasz Siemoniak during a telephone conversation on Sunday, March 9, 2014, according to a statement on the official website of the Polish Ministry of National Defense.

"The squadron will number twelve F-16 planes and will transport 300 soldiers," Polish Defense Ministry spokesman, Jacek Sonta, confirmed to AFP.

Initially, the training exercise was planned to be smaller but was increased and pushed forward because of the “tense political situation” in neighboring Ukraine, added Sonta.

The ministry also said that the aim of sending the units is to “strengthen Polish - American cooperation.” Part of the preparation team of US Air Force has already arrived on Polish territory.

The fighters were sent on the initiative of the Polish government, an initiative immediately accepted by Washington.

On Monday, NATO also gave the go-ahead to Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) for reconnaissance flights over Poland and Romania in order help monitor the crisis in Ukraine.

Poland is a western neighbor of crisis-torn Ukraine - between the countries’ capitals, Warsaw and Kiev, there is less than 700 km.

Earlier, the Polish media reported that US fighter jets would be stationed at the Lask air force base in central Poland.

Washington is also sending four F-15 planes to Lithuania in response to “Russian aggression in Ukraine and increased military activity in Kaliningrad,” according to the Lithuanian Defense Ministry.

On Saturday, US Navy destroyer, the USS Truxtun, crossed Turkey's Bosphorus and entered the Black Sea. The ship, with around 300 crew, was heading to “previously planned” training exercises with the Bulgarian and Romanian navies. When the vessel appeared in the Black Sea, Fox News declared that NATO’s bolstering presence in the Black Sea is a “defensive” measure to counter “Russian military aggression” in Ukraine.

USS Truxton, one of the largest destroyers ever built for the US navy, will reportedly stay in the Black Sea till mid-March as the Montreux Convention allows a warship of any non-Black Sea country to stay in the region for 21 day only.

The situation in Ukraine is close to financial and humanitarian catastrophe after the armed coup which took place in February. There are mass protests in eastern and southern parts of the country against the self-proclaimed authorities in Kiev.

The Autonomous Republic of Crimea has scheduled a referendum for March 16 on whether it wants to remain part of Ukraine, or join Russia.

*Link for This article compiled by K. V. Seth from reliable sources RT
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DTN News: Indonesia Now Using MegaMatcher Biometric Technology In Integrated Passport Issuance System

DTN News: Indonesia Now Using MegaMatcher Biometric Technology In Integrated Passport Issuance System *Neurotechnology's Multi-biometric Face and Fingerprint Identification Engine Helps Enable Fast, Accurate Passport Processing

*Source: DTN News / Neurotechnology

(NSI News Source Info) VILNIUS, Lithuania - July 28, 2009: Neurotechnology, a biometric identification technologies provider, announced today their inclusion as the core enrollment and identification engine for the Indonesian Integrated Biometric Passport Issuance System. MegaMatcher SDK multi-biometric technology was used by X/LINK Software, working with ICT Solution Provider PT. Berca Hardayaperkasa, to develop a distributed passport issuance system that enables the Republic of Indonesia's 100+ Immigration Offices to quickly enroll and process local passport applications.

MegaMatcher technology is intended for large-scale AFIS and multi-biometric systems developers. The technology ensures high reliability and speed of biometric identification even when using large databases. MegaMatcher is available as a software development kit that allows development of large-scale fingerprint, face or multi-biometric face-fingerprint and optionally iris identification products for Microsoft Windows and Linux platforms. Iris template extraction and matching engine is available as an add-on for the SDK.

Data from the local offices is automatically forwarded to a centralized biometric matching system that delivers fast and accurate processing of passport information. Neurotechnology's MegaMatcher provided the best combination of high degree of accuracy, identification of duplicate registrations, exemplary technical support and a low total cost of ownership. "Neurotechnology's MegaMatcher has provided Immigration an affordably priced, integrated solution for our unique Passport Issuance System," said Mr. Erwin Azis, SH, MH, Director of System Information of the Directorate General of Immigration of the Department of Law and Human Rights of the Republic of Indonesia. "Indonesia's passport system was a large and important project and we are pleased that MegaMatcher was selected for its implementation," said Dr. Algimantas Malickas, CEO of Neurotechnology. "X/LINK is a very experienced integrator, and using MegaMatcher technology they were able to implement a reliable, fast and fault tolerant system." The Indonesia passport issuance system uses MegaMatcher Client to generate templates from face and fingerprint images collected at local Indonesian Immigration Offices. These templates, along with scans of other required documents, are stored on a local server and forwarded automatically by X/LINK SAF (Store and Forward) to the Biometric Matching System at Immigration Headquarters. The Biometric Matching System, built upon the MegaMatcher Server solution, provides the identification and duplicate searching in the national passport database. Results are returned to the local office via SAF where, if appropriate, the passport is issued. The system at each Immigration Office utilizes a Linux Server with browser Clients running Windows XP and the web-based application developed using MegaMatcher Client. The Biometric Matching System at immigration headquarters in Jakarta runs on a scalable Linux server farm. The high speed and reliability of MegaMatcher facilitates the development of national-scale multi-biometric face/fingerprint identification systems and automated fingerprint identification systems (AFIS) for both civil and forensic applications. MegaMatcher includes both fingerprint and face identification engines with a fusion algorithm that allows the two technologies to work together to provide very fast 1:N (1 to many) matching with higher reliability than AFIS or facial recognition alone. The MegaMatcher fingerprint recognition algorithm has received full NIST MINEX certification for use in the US Government Personal Identity Verification program fingerprint recognition applications. MegaMatcher supports BioAPI 2.0 and most other biometric industry standards and can be used in conjunction with other Neurotechnology products, including VeriFinger, VeriLook and the FaceCell and FingerCell embedded development kits. All components of MegaMatcher can be used on both Microsoft Windows and Linux operating systems. MegaMatcher 3.0 SDK is available with highly competitive licensing options through Neurotechnology or from distributors worldwide. A 30-day trial version with full functionality is also available for download.

About Neurotechnology Neurotechnology is a provider of high-precision biometric fingerprint, face and iris identification algorithms, object recognition technology and software development products. More than 1900 system integrators, security companies and hardware providers integrate Neurotechnology's algorithms and software development technologies into their own products, with millions of customer installations worldwide. Neurotechnology's identification algorithms have consistently earned the highest honors in some of the industry's most rigorous competitions, including the National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST)'s Fingerprint Vendor Technology Evaluation (FpVTE) and the Fingerprint Verification Competitions (FVC). Drawing from years of academic research in the fields of neuroinformatics, image processing and pattern recognition, Neurotechnology was founded in 1990 in Vilnius, Lithuania under the name Neurotechnologija and released its first fingerprint identification system in 1991. Since that time the company has released more than 40 products and version upgrades for identification and verification of objects and personal identity. On April 14, 2008 the company announced an official name change to Neurotechnology.

DTN News: NATO Air Defense Drills Begin In The Baltics

DTN News: NATO Air Defense Drills Begin In The Baltics

*Source: DTN News / RIA Novosti

(NSI News Source Info) TALLINN, Estonia - July 15, 2009: NATO states will start in the Baltic states on Tuesday a series of air defense exercises involving Czech fighter jets, the Estonian Defense Ministry said. The two-day drills are focused on improving air interoperability and developing NATO air forces' capabilities in defending the air space over the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The exercises will involve four Czech JAS-39 Gripen fighter jets, based at the Lithuanian Siauliai Air Base, and a U.S. C-130 Hercules military transport plane. The exercises are a continuation of NATO's air policing drills, held last October and this April. NATO's air policing is one of the key aspects of common security and defense for the Alliance. In the case of the three Baltic states, the alliance rotates air policing capabilities. The Czech Air Force took over Baltic air policing from the Royal Danish Air Force on May 1. At the end of its leg, the Czech Republic will hand over the NATO mission to the German Air Force later this year. A NATO agreement on airspace security over Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia is set to expire in 2011, and the three countries are currently pushing for the agreement to be extended to 2018.

DTN News: Estonia To Send Additional Peacekeeping Unit To Afghanistan

DTN News: Estonia To Send Additional Peacekeeping Unit To Afghanistan

*Source: Int'l Media (NSI News Source Info) TALLINN - June 14, 2009: Estonian lawmakers have decided to send an additional contingent of peacekeepers to Afghanistan to improve security ahead of the war-torn country's August 20 presidential election, the parliamentary press service said on Thursday. The Baltic country initially planned to send the peacekeeping unit to Iraq, but Estonia officially ended its mission in Iraq in early February after the Iraqi government gave no request for the mission to be prolonged. Over 20 countries have already decided on sending additional units to Afghanistan, including Finland, Sweden, Lithuania and Poland. An Estonian 34-soldier infantry platoon returned from Iraq in December 2008. Estonian servicemen have been involved in Operation Iraqi Freedom since June 2003. Two Estonian soldiers have died and 18 have been wounded in the country. Since 2003, Estonian soldiers have been in Afghanistan as part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). The country's military has seen three deaths and about 30 servicemen wounded during its participation in NATO operations in Afghanistan.

Boeing Holds 'Major Join' Ceremony For 12-Nation Strategic Airlift Capability's 1st C-17

Boeing Holds 'Major Join' Ceremony For 12-Nation Strategic Airlift Capability's 1st C-17

(NSI News Source Info) March 15, 2009: Boeing today marked a key milestone at its C-17 final assembly facility in Long Beach -- the "major join" ceremony for the Strategic Airlift Capability (SAC) consortium's first C-17 Globemaster III. The unique SAC approach to shared use of the strategic airlifter was hailed as a model for the future acquisition and management of defense capabilities for NATO and European Union (EU) missions. Hungarian Minister of Defense Dr. Imre Szekeres drives the ceremonial rivet at the Strategic Airlift Capability (SAC) C-17 major join ceremony on March 13. Hungary has agreed to host the Heavy Airlift Wing at Pápa Air Base, where the first SAC C-17 will be based. During major join, the C-17 airlifter's four major sections -- the forward, center and aft fuselages and wing assembly -- are integrated, and the aircraft begins to look like a C-17 for the first time. Hundreds of C-17 employees looked on as senior members of SAC and representatives of the government of the Republic of Hungary, NATO, and Boeing drove ceremonial rivets into the aircraft's fuselage. Hungarian Minister of Defense Dr. Imre Szekeres played a special symbolic role in the ceremony, since Hungary has agreed to both host the Heavy Airlift Wing (HAW) at Pápa Air Base, where a total of three C-17s will be based, and to register the aircraft under the Hungarian flag. "SAC is a great example to see that cooperation and mutual finance strengthen capabilities and efficiency both within NATO and two EU countries outside NATO. It is a model for future cooperation," said Szekeres. "Strategic airlift is critical in responding to today's global challenges," said Peter Flory, NATO Assistant Secretary General for Defence Investment. "SAC1 represents a big step forward in strengthening our ability to support NATO, EU, United Nations and other military, humanitarian, disaster-relief, and peacekeeping missions around the world." The SAC1 C-17's first flight is set for June, with delivery tentatively scheduled for early July. SAC includes 10 NATO nations -- Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, United States -- and Partnership for Peace members Sweden and Finland. They will share acquisition and operating costs for three C-17s over the nearly 30-year course of the agreement. As chairman of the SAC Steering Board, Brig. Gen. Richard Johnston, U.S. Air Force, shared his thoughts during the ceremony: "No nation today is independent of those around it," he said. "These two Partnership for Peace and 10 NATO nations will succeed in bringing airlift to meet their national needs while working together through unwavering cooperation and partnership." "We have more than 70 airmen and families from the SAC nations working and living in Pápa, and our personnel strength grows each week," said the HAW's first commander, Col. John Zazworsky, U.S. Air Force. "With loadmasters and pilots already in training, we are on course for multinational flight operations as planned this summer." The colonel has been at work at Pápa Air Base since October. "The C-17 is the only tactical aircraft capable of performing all SAC airlift missions, including strategic, tactical, military and humanitarian missions, as well as brigade airdrops, aeromedical evacuations, and landings and takeoffs from standard runways or austere airfields," said Tommy Dunehew, Boeing International C-17 program manager. "SAC's commitment to the C-17 is yet another example of the value the C-17 has to international customers." Acting on behalf of SAC, the NATO Airlift Management Agency (NAMA), led by General Manager Gunnar Borch, signed an agreement with the U.S. government in November for the acquisition of three C-17s, one of which will be provided by the United States. NAMA provides acquisition, financial and human-resources support to the HAW, and has also been active since the fall in bringing this new concept to life.