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17/09/2003
New chemical warfare detector for armed forces
The UK armed forces are to receive the latest anti-chemical warfare equipment designed to warn troops if any traces of chemical agents are detected on the battlefield.
The Minister for Defence Procurement, Lord Bach, today officially accepted the new Man-portable Chemical Agent Detector (MCAD) on behalf of all three services.
The contract, worth £18 million, will see more than 2,000 systems delivered to the three services.
Designed and constructed in the UK, MCAD can detect a huge variety of dangerous chemical agents from just tiny traces.
As well as highlighting potential dangers, it will also be able to give an 'all-clear', so troops do not have to wear protective equipment for any longer than is necessary.
Announcing the handover of the new system, Lord Bach said: "MCAD will give our troops a reliable, accurate and highly sensitive early warning system, ensuring they can identify a chemical attack early and take the right precautions to protect themselves."
The MCAD system replaces the NAIAD (Nerve Agent Immobilised-enzyme Alarm and Detector). Although highly accurate and dependable, NAIAD is expensive to operate and required replenishing after every use - making it a significant logistical burden.
Lord Bach added: "The reliability of this system is paramount. MCAD uses new technology to identify chemicals making it simple to operate and producing fast and accurate results.
"MCAD will work with the Lightweight Chemical Agent Detector (LCAD) to ensure our troops have a dependable and robust system to alert them to any potential chemical strike."
MCAD has been manufactured by Smiths Detection, Watford, using technology developed by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory.
Smiths Detection secured the contract after an international competition to ensure the MoD procured the "best balance of technical performance, risk, value for money and reduction in logistic burden".
MCAD is one element of a two-tier detection system. The Lightweight Chemical Agent Detector (LCAD) is due to enter service shortly.
(gmcg)
The Minister for Defence Procurement, Lord Bach, today officially accepted the new Man-portable Chemical Agent Detector (MCAD) on behalf of all three services.
The contract, worth £18 million, will see more than 2,000 systems delivered to the three services.
Designed and constructed in the UK, MCAD can detect a huge variety of dangerous chemical agents from just tiny traces.
As well as highlighting potential dangers, it will also be able to give an 'all-clear', so troops do not have to wear protective equipment for any longer than is necessary.
Announcing the handover of the new system, Lord Bach said: "MCAD will give our troops a reliable, accurate and highly sensitive early warning system, ensuring they can identify a chemical attack early and take the right precautions to protect themselves."
The MCAD system replaces the NAIAD (Nerve Agent Immobilised-enzyme Alarm and Detector). Although highly accurate and dependable, NAIAD is expensive to operate and required replenishing after every use - making it a significant logistical burden.
Lord Bach added: "The reliability of this system is paramount. MCAD uses new technology to identify chemicals making it simple to operate and producing fast and accurate results.
"MCAD will work with the Lightweight Chemical Agent Detector (LCAD) to ensure our troops have a dependable and robust system to alert them to any potential chemical strike."
MCAD has been manufactured by Smiths Detection, Watford, using technology developed by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory.
Smiths Detection secured the contract after an international competition to ensure the MoD procured the "best balance of technical performance, risk, value for money and reduction in logistic burden".
MCAD is one element of a two-tier detection system. The Lightweight Chemical Agent Detector (LCAD) is due to enter service shortly.
(gmcg)
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