Smiths Detection selected for Joint Chemical Agent Detector JCAD Increment 2 evaluation

US Department of Defense (DoD) will test two different detector configurations of Smiths Detection’s advanced chemical detectors

SMITHS Detection, part of the global technology business Smiths Group, today announced its military unit has been selected to participate in the first major phase of Increment 2 of the Joint Chemical Agent Detector (JCAD) Program.

Earlier this year, Smiths Detection was awarded an initial $3.9 million firm-fixed price contract to supply M4 JCADs to Increment 1 of the JCAD Program.

The M4 JCAD is an advanced, non-radioactive chemical point detector that is designed to help save the lives of troops by automatically detecting, identifying and quantifying both chemical warfare agents and toxic industrial chemicals.

The second increment of the JCAD program builds upon Increment 1 requirements emphasizing detector sensitivity, false alarm rejection, and networking capabilities. The DoD will evaluate multiple detectors over the next year.

Smiths Detection has developed two different detector configurations to meet the requirements for the second increment of the JCAD program. These further enhance the Smiths Detection product and technology that was chosen for Increment 1 of the program and is now in production.

Initially ten detectors - five of each configuration - will be procured by the DoD for evaluation. If successful through multiple evaluation phases, the long-term potential for the JCAD Increment 2 program is for production of up to 120,000 units for the detector selected.

Stephen Phipson, Group Managing Director of Smiths Detection, said: “This is the next phase in helping the DoD to equip the US Military and another important milestone for our military business.

“Smiths Detection has produced chemical detectors for military forces around the world for over 40 years and securing the Increment 1 contract of the JCAD program was a significant win. For both the Department of Defense and Smiths Detection, it marked the start of one of the most important chemical agent detection equipment programs ever undertaken.

“The selection of Smiths Detection detectors to the JCAD Increment 2 evaluation further highlights our commitment to continuous development of technology to protect US military forces.”

ENDS