Smiths Detection has been awarded a contract modification to supply additional portable chemical agent detection systems to the US Army.
The $20m deal, awarded under the US Department of Defense’s (DoD) joint chemical agent detector (JCAD) programme, covers the supply of M4A1 JCAD systems, which are based on Smiths Detection’s lightweight chemical detector (LCD) product line.
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The company did not disclose the number of units ordered and their delivery schedule.
Smiths Detection Business Development director Tom Brown said: "This order underscores the success of the LCD, which is used by weapon inspectors, civil responders and military forces worldwide.
"Equally so, the JCAD programme has established itself as one of the most effective chemical warfare protection solutions for US troops in history."
Manufactured at Smiths Detection’s facility in Edgewood, US, the M4A1 JCAD is an advanced, non-radioactive chemical point detector designed to safeguard lives through automatic detection, identification and quantification of both chemical warfare agents and toxic industrial chemicals.
The device can detect lower levels of chemical warfare vapours compared to its predecessor, the M4. This gives soldiers the time needed to take protective measures, such as contamination avoidance or an increase in mission-level protective posture.
Operated in either a hand-held mode or mounted onto several platforms, including ground vehicles, fixed-site installations and collective protection shelters, the detector weighs less than 2lb, and can be worn or easily carried by personnel without interference.
In addition, it can be operated in a small local network of other JCAD units, or networked with the joint warning and reporting network (JWARN) as part of a larger network of biological and chemical detectors.
Image: The pocket-size M4A1 JCAD automatically detects and alarms chemical warfare agents. Photo: © Copyright 2014 Smiths Detection.
