ATLAS Expert Groups and Forums

Sniping

The training to become a sniper at EKO Cobra includes introductions to weapons and devices, shooting from various positions and at various distances, special operational language and radio communication, courses about gun laws, and psychological training. Operators learn how to shoot under extreme pressure and on command. Snipers shoot at each training the so-called cold shot, i.e. the very first shot on a training day. In this context each sniper must hit a circular target with a diameter of about 2,5 centimetres from a distance of 100 metres even under poor conditions (wind, rain, cold etc.). During the monthly staff development seminars shooting at night or under poor visibility is also trained.

Police dogs

Police dogs have been in use for many years at various special units. Since 1987 EKO Cobra/DSE uses Belgian Malinois dogs (Belgian Shepherd dogs) as police dogs. This breed brings ideal preconditions and skills for very dangerous operations in buildings and open terrain. They start their training as young dogs, at about 11 years of age they usually retire and stay thereafter with their dog handler.

“Only when the dog fully trusts the human and the human fully trusts the dog you can deal with the difficult tasks during our operations”. This is the motto for the training of police dogs at EKO Cobra/DSE. The dog handlers have to complete a two-year course in addition to their normal training. During this time the dog handler and his dog get to know each other very well. The course finishes with a three-day exam in which the relationship between dog handler and his dog as well as their skills are thoroughly tested. Only those who succeed in creating a genuine unity between themselves and their dog and are at the same time open to sacrifice everything for their companion are at the end of the exam allowed to start working as a new team.

Taking the dog on duty is always part of the operational planning, however, in the end the dog handler decides whether to send the dog or not. At first mission control needs to check the legal framework. The aim of the deployment of a police dog is a target-oriented silent attack on the perpetrator without getting distracted.

At each training, snipers must – with the very first shot – hit a circular target with a diameter of about 2,5 cm from a distance of 100 m even under poor conditions.

Personal protection

The training to become a close protection expert is part of the six-months long basic training. In continuation of the skills taught during basic training a several weeks long special personal protection course must be completed. Every officer has to complete several times per year a one-day personal protection seminar, apart from his mandatory main training in which topics from the basic training are intensified and extended. Furthermore, a special personal protection driver training must be completed. Quality and quantity of the training are equal to international standards. A special quality of the personal protection service at EKO Cobra is its permanent availability. Officers are ready for deployment at any base and can accompany persons at risk for longer periods of time. EKO Cobra is a unit which practises personal protection according to a strict guideline. In this guideline, developed by EKO Cobra, the philosophy, and values of EKO Cobra are clearly defined. It is the basis for all activities and makes education, goals, and tasks in personal protection clear and transparent. This is of enormous importance in this sensitive area.

EKO Cobra puts great emphasis on exchange and close cooperation with international personal protection services, so that all tactical procedures are compatible in joint operations. This is of special importance during missions abroad and during visits of foreign guests to Austria since here “mixed” teams often have to work together. EKO Cobra has a membership of the European Network of People Protecting Forces (ENPPF) – with regular halfyearly conferences and workshops – and of the Association of the People Protecting Services (APPS) in which 68 state-run personal protection organisations from 60 countries worldwide are represented. APPS conducts coordinating conferences and various forms of education and workshops. Furthermore, there is also a membership in the European Black Griffin Project since 2015. Under the leadership of Dutch and German special units standards in personal and object protection in crisis regions are being worked out. EKO Cobra’s tactics are highly compatible and its performance in personal protection is highly valued by foreign units.

About 120 officers are trained as “Flight Monitor for Special Missions of the Security Police”. And about 35 persons at Cobra are trained for deployment in alpine or high-altitude terrain.

Rope techniques

This special application includes rope techniques, alpine know-how, and becoming a “Flight Monitor for Special Missions of the Security Police (FBS)”. For some years now EKO Cobra has been running the “Tactical Training in Hostile Terrain (TAUG)”. In the process of TAUG trainings every officer has to invest several hours per year into training and staff development seminars. The focus of this training is on camouflage and moving in the terrain, orientation with maps or technical instruments such as GPS devices or a compass.

During basic training a lot of the exercises take place in the training tower on the Cobra premises. The 20-meterhigh tower with six levels serves for any rope and tactic

Speed and precision: four operators of Cobra at shooting training.

related tasks. Rope technicians are specialists for knots, are perfect with various abseiling methods, ground preparation and recovery techniques. In the tower officers work hard to improve their team skills, level of concentration, strength, and endurance. For deployment in difficult scenarios the appropriate roping techniques must be learned. This includes breaching tools and various types of equipment depending on the respective scenario.

In the beginning of the 1980s a special training and operations concept for the then available helicopters of the Aviation Police (Jet Ranger Bell 206B and later also Airbus Écureuil) was developed for EKO Cobra to deal with extremely dangerous incidents. Out of this concept the “Flight Monitor for Special Missions of the Security Police (FBS)” was developed. Since 2008 EKO Cobra/DSE can also use the Eurocopter 135. Apart from the general work such as guiding the helicopter, navigation, radio, etc., the FBS is also responsible for the following tasks: • support during search flights • stopping of vehicles and persons • tactical protection of colleagues from the air • tactical abseiling • prisoner transports • flights with the long rope (except alpine recovery).

At EKO Cobra/DSE about 120 officers are trained as Flight Monitor for Special Missions of the Security Police. They support police officers at local and regional levels, e.g. during natural disasters (floods, avalanches, etc.).

Furthermore, there are at the moment about 35 persons at EKO Cobra/DSE who are trained for deployment in alpine or high-altitude terrain. Eleven of these are trained police mountain guides. The training varies according to the season and weather conditions (skiing tours, climbing, orienteering, etc.).

Air Marshals

Since 1981 undercover EKO Cobra officers protect passenger flights of Austrian airlines. In the months after September 11, 2001, the number of missions rose dramatically. Until today EKO Cobra is seen as the only counter terrorism unit which was able to end a hijacking of an airplane during the flight. The Air Marshal Service requires a very high training standard of the deployed police officers. Great emphasis is put on close combat techniques. The demanding training takes place on the premises of EKO Cobra in Wiener Neustadt in an Air Marshal training centre which was built especially for this purpose. The training infrastructure of the centre (airplane replicas and interactive indoor shooting range) was planned for the purpose of Air Marshal training and is state-of-the-art. The training courses for officers conducting deportations are also run here.

The EKO Cobra Air Marshal programme is together with the Swiss and Israeli programmes one of the oldest worldwide and highly respected. As a result, a well-functioning network between airlines, international authori-

ties and contacts could be established. The core personnel in the areas of Air Marshal work and deportations has, due to its long specialisation, the international cooperation and the steady progress, a high reputation within the Air Marshal network and is highly estimated as a partner for cooperation within the international network. The Austrian Air Marshal programme is globally connected within the International In-Flight Security Officer Committee (IIFSOC). As a founding member EKO Cobra is part of the steering committee.

The purpose of the Air Marshal network is the mutual support and international cooperation against terror threats in civilian aviation. At instructor workshops and annual conferences there is an exchange of experiences and possible solutions for potential threats are developed. Technical developments are also discussed in this context.

Special operations techniques and drones

Since 2020 EKO Cobra/DSE has its own department dealing with the deployment of and defence against drones. All over the country special technicians are responsible for establishing satellite communication, the support of arrest teams with robots and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) of all kinds, and the set-up of bugging devices, video equipment and radar systems and other sensors to detect persons within buildings and in open spaces. In high-risk operations technicians use breaching technology for the opening of doors, windows and walls. Another area is the defence against drones in the context of state visits or sensitive events.

With some technical developments – such as team-tracking, an Air Marshal communication system or a sniper control system – EKO technicians were trail blazers for such special equipment.

The training for these special technicians lasts about two months and takes place in several steps. First a course about breaching techniques must be completed, then the permission to use explosives during missions and to blow up metal has to be obtained. In parallel training takes place for all technical operation equipment used in the areas mission tactics and UAV deployment and defence, and the training as UAV pilot for special incidents. In 2015 technicians of EKO Cobra took over the running of the technical competency group within the ATLAS Network. The excellent connection with other European special units guarantees the necessary exchange of knowledge and experience in this rapidly developing technology segment.

Operator of Cobra with assault rifle Steyr Arms AUG, cal. .300 BLK.

International competitions

Every four years the Combat Team Conference (CTC) is organised by the GSG 9 in Sankt Augustin near Bonn. It is seen as the globally most important event for counter terrorism units of the military and the police. Victory at CTC brings very high prestige.

In 1999 GEK participated for the first time with a new competition team in Sankt Augustin.

In 2003 and 2015 EKO Cobra was the overall winner at CTC. In 2015 43 teams with about 350 participants travelled to the competition. 17 teams were from Germany, 26 from abroad, among them units from Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong, Brazil, and Colombia.

After victories at competitions for special units such as in Zürich (2008), Györ (2010), Jordan (2011) or in Neuchâtel in Switzerland (2014), and other top placements in Germany and the Netherlands the success of the Cobra competition team at the CTC 2015 has further strengthened the international interest in EKO Cobra.

Einsatzkommando Cobra/ Direktion für Spezialeinheiten (EKO Cobra/DSE) Country: Austria Foundation Year: 1978 Member of the ATLAS Network since: 2001

Homepage: www.bmi.gv.at

THE ATLAS NETWORK

European Special Intervention Units combating terrorism and violent crime

The ATLAS Network is the European answer to violent crime and terroristic threat. 38 Police Special Intervention Units (SIU) of altogether 31 countries belong to this Union that was founded in 2001 under the motto “All together to protect you”. On the one hand, this book gives an exclusive overview about ATLAS Network, its history, organisation, and activities. On the other hand, all units are introduced in detail, from their beginnings until today, and with insights into their training, materials, and their most spectacular operations. Numerous, mostly unpublished photos offer authentic and fascinating views at the experts combating terrorism. The high-qualitative and large format presentation is similar to an illustrated book and brings to bear the special pictures. With support of ATLAS, all Special Forces and Europol, a unique non-fiction book with first-hand information arose, which keeps in mind this European story of success in the fight against criminal and terroristic actions.