NATO Multinational Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defence Battalion

The Multinational Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Defence Battalion is a high readiness, multi-national force providing NATO missions and deployed NATO joint forces with a credible Nuclear Biological Chemical (NBC) capability. This is to ensure the Alliance's freedom of action in an NBC environment.

The battalion was created in 2003, following the Prague Summit in Nov. 2002, as a further initiative to enhance the Alliance's capabilities against Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD). It can deploy in 5 to 20 days, together or as part of a specific force tailored to a specific mission.

The main activities of the battalion are NBC reconnaissance, identification of substances and decontamination operations; biological detection and monitoring operations; as well as NBC assessment and advice to NATO commanders.

Supreme Allied Commander Europe has operational control over this force.