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To detect and protect
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| 23 April 2004 |
By Andy Oppenheimer
The Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) protection industry is in the throes of a revolution as countries seek to meet the challenge of detecting unconventional threats both on the battlefield and on the home front.
The 1990-91 Gulf War highlighted some of the shortcomings of Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) protection and detection methods and equipment used by coalition troops. More recent terrorist attacks on civilian population centres, such as 9/11, have provided additional impetus to these efforts to ensure that soldiers in theatre, as well as first responders, use current detection technologies.
During the past decade, a number of countries have advanced the development of robust new detection technologies to protect their forces against a wide spectrum of CBRN threats. Canada, France, Germany, the UK and the US are leading the way in many of the new technologies. Central and Eastern European countries such as the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland and Romania also have a reputation for detection techniques and deployment, honed during the Cold War. Israel has a long-established record in chemical and biological protection and detection, gained from the constant need for readiness against the use of Chemical and Biological Weapons (CBWs) by states, terrorists or other non-state actors.
One of the most significant advances in detection technology has been in signal processing and presentation. The revolution in electronics now allows the combination of several existing technologies, such as signal processing, into one detection instrument.
Combination suites lie at the forefront of CBRN defence technology; these will offer NBC detection and will deliver an integrated command function. For example, the M93A1 NBC Reconnaissance System (NBCRS), in service with the US Army and the US Marine Corps, is a dedicated system for nuclear and chemical weapons detection, warning and sampling equipment integrated into a high-speed, high-mobility armoured carrier.
While the US and Europe have more funds available to spend on NBC defence, developing nations also seek to include, even if in a limited role, detection units in their armed forces.
Since the number of CBRN threats is growing, it is unlikely that investment in detection technology will ease anytime soon. Improved detection methods can only enhance armed forces' abilities to deal with attacks rapidly, in order to minimise their fatal impact.
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