NATO tests intelligence surveillance, reconnaissance at YPG, MCAS Yuma
Amajor event held by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization occurs every two years, with the most recent taking place in late June. Significant activities during the event occurred at U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground and Marine Corps Air Station Yuma.
NATO has officially dubbed the trial “Unified Vision.” It is the premier NATO event at which various powers making up the organization test joint intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance activities. While it took place in a number of NATO countries spanning thousands of miles, challenges ranged from conventional threats to the fight against terrorism.
People ranging from armchair generals to distinguished military professionals think of events like this as an “exercise,” but that is incorrect. The focus of Unified Vision is on technological and procedural interoperability between nations, as well as testing new technology — NOT training and readiness. This means that Unified Vision has appropriately been designated a “trial” rather than an “exercise.”
Joint intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance is a vital capability that provides NATO decision-makers with better situational awareness of what is happening on the ground, at sea and in the air. It is now more important than ever, as western nations face the most challenging security situation since the end of the Cold War, with multiple threats from the east and from the south.
The trial helped ensure that joint intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance assets from
NATO and the Allies were able to operate together to counter security threats, as well as seamlessly coordinate numerous intelligence, processing, exploitation, and dissemination systems. The collected intelligence data was immediately beamed to NATO decisionmakers, often in Europe, in a near real-time basis.
But these capabilities are only valuable when the information collected can be understood and effectively shared. Lessons learned during the trial will enhance intelligence efforts in future NATO operations
There were many types of live data collection and analysis. Examples included:
· Radar data collected from surveillance aircraft;
· Imagery such as video and photo collected from fast jets and unmanned aerial vehicles and other assets;
· Facial recognition from participating armed forces through imagery collected;
· Human intelligence such as reports from Soldiers.
Both YPG and MCAS Yuma supported the event, with the Marines flying an unmanned aircraft over Yodaville, a collection of shipping containers representing an urban area, and YPG operating a Blackhawk helicopter. A centerpiece of YPG’s support was the operation of an aerostat balloon that was able to generate and transmit key types of valuable electronic data, even to overseas destinations.
Senior Engineer Quang Ho of Project Director Aerostat says the aerostat balloons have proven quite valuable, for they are able to carry a wide variety of electronic sensor equipment easily configured to specific missions.
“Aerostats can always be up in the air, no matter the extreme environment,” he said. “They gather intelligence, talk to other systems and provide detailed, sharp video to Soldiers on the ground — all at the same time.”
He even pointed out that the aerostat has proven to be a successful deterrent to the enemy, for adversaries have well learned the lethal threat they represent.
“When tethered aerostats are flying, the enemy frequently reduces the level of activity in the area,” said Ho, “for he doesn’t want to be exposed.”
Although the main portion of Unified Vision activities took place in Germany, hundreds of people were involved in locations around the world.
Dr. Werner Wester moves into a new role
Dr. Werner Wester, one of the founders of Women’s Health Specialists, will be transitioning into a laborist physician at Yuma Regional Medical Center as of Aug. 1 but will remain a part of the group.
Wester has provided patient care to women in the Yuma community for more than 40 years and has been an integral part of Women’s Health Specialists.
“We will certainly miss him in our office on a daily basis, but look forward in having him as a dedicated laborist at the hospital along with the remainder of our group,” Women’s Health Specialists said in an announcement.
Staff and providers added: “Thank you for your years of services in our clinic Dr. Wester—we look forward to your new adventure!”
Family nurse practitioner Marina Roloff is the newest Yuma Regional Medical Center Family Medicine Center medical provider and a native Yuman who says she is thrilled to be serving the people of her beloved hometown.
Roloff graduated from