A Multinational Effort to Strengthen NATO’s EOD Capabilities
The Explosive Ordnance Disposal Centre of Excellence, based in Slovakia, supports Alliance-wide efforts to enhance operational effectiveness, interoperability, and transformation. Accredited by NATO, the Centre is supported by Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and, as of May 2025, the United States. This multinational partnership brings together critical expertise to support NATO’s evolving explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) capabilities.
Harnessing Immersive Technologies for Realistic Training
The Centre is advancing immersive training with the development of a virtual and extended reality system known as the EOD/IEDD Combat Support System. Designed to support engineers, EOD technicians, and chemical and biological defence personnel, the system enables instructors to create customizable virtual scenarios that simulate complex real-world environments. This “sandbox” design allows tailored training at varying levels of difficulty and enables safe practice of high-risk scenarios that are difficult to replicate due to safety, cost, or resource constraints.
Assessment tools are integrated into the platform to support performance evaluation and after-action review. Planned enhancements include expanded databases of ordnance and tools, improved user interfaces and simulation realism, support for command post exercises, and integrated data capture for lessons learned and gap analysis. Long-term plans involve adapting the platform for operational rehearsal and expanding its utility to other mission areas beyond military engineering.
Showcasing Innovation and Collaboration
In October, the Centre will host its flagship event, the EOD Demonstration and Trials, in Bratislava, Slovakia. This high-profile gathering will feature live technology demonstrations, an exhibition, and a conference focused on EOD support in Multi-Domain Operations. Participants from NATO member states, partner countries, industry, academia, and government will convene to explore current challenges and advancements in explosive ordnance disposal.
Training the Alliance to Meet Emerging Threats
The Centre’s education and training programme includes five NATO-certified courses designed to build expertise across the explosive ordnance disposal spectrum. These courses introduce students to NATO’s EOD doctrine, prepare personnel for staff roles, and provide specialized instruction in areas such as chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats. Additional offerings focus on the identification and handling of homemade explosives, with both basic and advanced training tailored to different levels of experience.
In addition to training, the Centre contributes to NATO’s transformation initiatives. It serves as custodian of NATO’s EOD doctrine (Allied Joint Publication 3.18) and contributes to various NATO working groups in areas such as airfield damage repair, chemical and biological defence, counter-improvised explosive devices, and military engineering. The Centre supports key NATO exercises like Ardent Defender, Northern Challenge, and Digital Backbone Experimentation. It also conducts studies on topics such as artificial intelligence applications in EOD and lessons identified from the conflict in Ukraine.
Supporting NATO Through Tools, Data, and Doctrine
To aid field operations and procurement, the Centre maintains a comprehensive database of EOD equipment and technologies, including specifications and manufacturers. This tool supports decision-making across military engineering, EOD, and chemical and biological procurement processes. Recent expansions to the database include 3D-printed schematics and improvised techniques, offering low-cost, field-adaptable solutions and fostering collaboration across the EOD community.
More information about the NATO-accredited Explosive Ordnance Disposal Centre of Excellence is available on their official website.
