Nuclear/Biological/Chemical (NBC) Defense - Federation of ...

NBC Defense Annual Report
2-4
Table 2-2. Contamination Avoidance Science and Technology Strategy
By 1999 By 2005 By 2009
• Complete installation of
the Portal Shield ACTD
biological and chemical
detection network at
CINC air bases and
ports
• Complete
demonstration of
integrated point
biodetection capability
(Advanced Technology
Demonstration)
• Field upgrade (eye safe) Long Range Bio
Stand-off Detector in FY00-02.
• Joint Biological Remote Early Warning System
(JBREWS) ACTD with fielding of ACTD
systems to selected CINCs by FY01
• Complete development of Joint Service
Lightweight Standoff Chemical Agent Detector
(JSLSCAD)
• Initiate development of Joint Service Warning
and Identification LIDAR Detection (JSWILD)
• Complete development of Joint Chemical
Agent Detector (JCAD)
• Complete development of Block II Joint
Biological Point Detection System (JBPDS)
• Demonstrate integration of
chemical and biological
agent detection modules into
a single sensor suite
• Initiate development of handheld
equipment chemical
contamination scanner
• Complete development of CB
water monitor
• Complete development of
JSWILD
2.3.1.2 Potential Payoffs and Transition Opportunities. Future CB detection systems will
provide the capability to detect, identify in real time, map, and track all CB contamination in a
theater of operations. This will enable commanders to avoid CB contamination or to assume the
appropriate protection required to continue fighting and sustain their mission with minimal
performance degradation and casualties. The program seeks to develop small, lightweight
chemical detectors to provide an individual chemical detection capability. CB detection
technologies have dual use potential in monitoring air pollution, noxious fumes inside enclosed
areas, and municipal water supplies.
2.3.1.3 Major Technical Challenges. The major technical challenges are in the areas of biological
collection, detection and identification, including remote/early warning sensing, improved
agent discrimination and quantification, sample processing, interferent and ambient biological
background rejection, and genetic probe development. Size, weight, and power reduction of
detectors, power generation and consumption, development of integrated biological and
chemical detection systems, and the fusion of sensor data with mapping, imagery, and other data
for near real-time display of events are other areas of challenge.
There are two critical needs, both are focused on biological agent detection. Current
technologies require a high level of logistical support and lack discrimination in biological
standoff detection. The challenge in reducing logistical support stems from the dependence on
reagents and size, weight, and power requirements of the systems. Several efforts address these
issues and can be broken out as efforts in minimizing reagent requirements with higher sensitivity,
better stability, and fewer supporting reagents, and scientific/engineering strategies to reduce
size, weight, and power requirements, especially in the sample collections components. There
are several factors directly limiting the ability to discriminate biological agents using standoff
(laser) detection technologies. Key factors include: (1) a lack of fundamental data in understanding
the spectral properties of biological warfare agents, (2) range limitations of lasers due
to atmospheric absorption, and (3) natural background interference. Over the last two years, a
number of strategies and concepts have been developed to improve the discrimination capability
of standoff detection for biological materials. Preliminary data developed this past year has
shown the potential feasibility of two of these concepts. Further efforts in FY02 and FY03 will