CBRNe Medical Countermeasures 2001 to Date – A Reflection

David Bates addresses how actors can counter an adversary’s desired effects through information manoeuvre, as well as traditional defensive methods by exploiting previous experience and learning alongside professional education and training. The somatic and psychological effects of Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) agents are well characterised and documented as are their modes of deployment and use (Bland, 2013). NATO troops are well versed in deploying defensive measures to counter their effects across the mission spectrum from warfighting to hybrid operations including violent extremism, propaganda and deception (NATO, 2023). CBRN and its newer sibling high energy explosives (e) are deliberately deployed by adversaries to create disorienting dilemmas in a government, entity, population or community and they are most effective against unprepared groups.