NATO members form center to combat hybrid threats

A Memorandum of Understanding for the European Center of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats was signed Tuesday in Helsinki, Finland, by representatives of Finland, France, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Sweden, Britain and the United States.

Other NATO and EU nations are expected to join the initiative soon, NATO said in a press release.

NATO said countering hybrid threats is an alliance priority, since such threats "blur the line between war and peace -- combining military aggression with political, diplomatic, economic, cyber and disinformation measures."

Other Centers of Excellence to counter hybrid threats currently exist in Riga, Latvia, and Tallinn, Estonia.

Saab extends support for Britain's simulated training systems
Washington (UPI) Apr 12, 2017 - Saab is extending its support and services for its Defense Direct Fire Weapon Effects Simulator used by the British military.

The three-year extension, which comes into effect this year, comes under a Ministry of Defense contract worth about $27 million.

"This new contract, extending the use of the capability, is a proof of the strong relationship between Saab and the British Army, and a renewal of our commitment as a highly trusted complete training provider to a leading military customer," Saab's Training and Simulation business unit, said in a press release.

Saab's Direct Fire Weapon Effects Simulator, or DFWES, is a laser-based tactical engagement simulation that enables soldiers to simulate the effects of direct and indirect fire.

All weapon systems and vehicles -- from small arms through to Main Battle Tanks -- are simulated in the Saab system, which also features urban warfare and counter-IED full motion video training capabilities.