X-ray vs. ZB
(click to view full)

American Science and Engineering’s Z Backscatter Van™ (ZBV) is a low-cost, extremely maneuverable screening system built into a commercially available delivery van. The ZBV employs AS&E’s patented Z Backscatter technology, which reveals contraband that transmission X-rays miss – such as explosives (including car bombs), plastic weapons, and people – providing photo-like imaging for rapid analysis.

The Z-Backscatter Van is also capable of identifying low levels of radioactivity from both gamma rays and neutrons with optional Radioactive Threat Detection (RTD) technology. Here’s how it works…

Continue Reading… »

M93 Fox
(click to view full)

General Dynamics Land Systems Inc. in Sterling Heights, MI received a $56.5 million modification to a firm-fixed-price contract to upgrade 18 Fox Nuclear Biological Chemical Reconnaissance System (NBC-RS) Vehicles from M93 (14) and M93A1 (4) Configurations to M93A1P1. Work will be performed in Sterling Heights, MI; Anniston, AL; Lima, OH; and Germany and is expected to be complete by Sept. 30, 2009. This was a sole source contract initiated on April 24, 2007 by the U.S. Army Research, Development, and Engineering Command at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD (DAAM01-96-C-0028). General Dynamics release.

The amphibious Fox (Fuchs) vehicle is actually a German design, first fielded in 1979 by a firm that became part of Rheinmetall Landsysteme. The NBC-RS variant, or Spurfuchs in German, has become popular with a number of countries, and is in service with the US Army and Marines. The wedge-shaped cover over the rear door is a key identifier, and all M93 NBS-RS variants have an over-pressure filtration system that permits the crew to operate in a fully protected environment.

Fox in Husseiniyah
(click to view full)

The upgraded M93A1 reduces the crew complement from 4 to 3, and contains an enhanced NBC sensor suite consisting of the M21 Remote Sensing Chemical Agent Alarm (RSCAAL), MM1 Mobile Mass Spectrometer, Chemical Agent Monitor/Improved Chemical Agent Monitor (CAM/ICAM), AN/VDR-2 Beta Radiac, and M22 Automatic Chemical Agent Detector/Alarm (ACADA). The NBC sensor suite has been digitally linked with the communications and navigation subsystems by a dual-purpose central processor system known as the Multipurpose Integrated Chemical Agent Detector (MICAD), which fully automates NBC warning and reporting to other units and integrates with the vehicles Global Positioning System [GPS] and Autonomous Navigation System. The M93A1P1 is the most up-to-date configuration and features a survivability improvement package that includes slat armor, improved protection against land mines, and firepower improvements via the CROWS remote-controlled weapon station.

New York and San Francisco have begun using the IAC 1090 Intelligent Aquatic BioMonitoring System (iABS) developed by Intelligent Automation Corporation (IAC) of Poway, CA to protect public drinking water from contamination and potential terrorism incidents. The system is also being used by the U.S. Army at Fort Detrick, MD, a development partner for the system along with the U.S. Army Center for Environmental Health Research (USACEHR), The US Environmental Protection Agency, and the Department of Defense Legacy Program. The key to this whole system? Well, a neural network processor, and… fish.

Bluegill sunfish, to be precise (for Europeans: similar to Bream).

Continue Reading… »

Akamai Physics Inc. in Las Cruces, NM received a $10.3 million cost-plus fixed-fee contract modification for Bright Onyx. This is a compact, active multi-spectral chemical sensor operating in the 5-micrometer region; it enables the remote chemical detection of chemicals associated with weapons of mass destruction that may be transported on ships inbound to United States ports. The Bright Onyx sensor must operate at UAV airspeeds and ranges with detection sensitivities of 10 ppm*m and meet UAV power, weight, and size requirements. Solicitations began March 2006, negotiations were complete June 2006, and work will be complete June 2008. The Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH issued the contract (FS8650-04-C-1714/P00004).

UAVs are becoming increasingly popular for WMD-related detection missions, in additional to their ‘traditional’ roles in battlefield reconnaissance and light precision attack. Last Thursday, for example, DID covered a separate $8.2 million contract aimed at modifying Boeing’s ScanEagle UAV to detect biological agents.

Continue Reading… »

ScanEagle BCAS
(click for alternate view)

Boeing Phantom Works and a team of U.S. bio-defense companies have been given a two-year $8.2 million Phase I contract to modify the Boeing/Insitu ScanEagle unmanned air vehicle (UAV) to look for biological warfare agents as part of a program funded by the USA’s Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA). Under the Biological Combat Assessment System (BCAS) Advanced Technology Demonstration (ATD) program, the DTRA and the Boeing-led team will work with U.S. Pacific Command and the U.S. Navy Third Fleet to design and develop a remote sensor system that can assess battle damage and collateral effects, and also locate, track, collect and detect simulated biological warfare agents in a designated area.

The team will integrate the sensor system into the Boeing-Insitu ScanEagle UAV and then will demonstrate the system’s capabilities in flight tests. Successful flight tests will lead to a possible Phase 2 follow-on contract and limited production options with the DTRA worth approximately $15 million.

This is the first time Boeing has served as a lead systems integrator on a program directed solely toward chemical and biological defense, so they’re drawing on scientists and engineers from across the company and industry. Industry team members include the Midwest Research Institute, Applied Research Associates and Steris. Internal Boeing participants, meanwhile, will be drawn from Boeing Commercial Airplanes, the Advanced Systems group of Integrated Defense Systems, and the Engineering & Information Technology and Advanced Homeland Security groups within Boeing’s Phantom Works unit for advanced R&D. See Boeing’s June 2006 release | The Bright Onyx sensor contract | Boeing’s March 2008 release.

Alaskan-headquartered Alutiiq Global Solutions LLC in Hanahan, SC has received $92 million in contracts for technical services in support of Electronic Security System projects and programs. Program security requirements encompass numerous facilities; vary in scope, magnitude and complexity and will range from modification/additions to existing security systems, to large-scale integrated base-wide or facility-wide systems. These systems/subsystems include:

Continue Reading… »

Northrop Grumman IT has been awarded a indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract with a potential value of approximately $375 million over four years, in order to provide a range of scientific and technical advisory and assistance services to the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA, also known by some as Nunn-Lugar) that will support DTRA’s mission to reduce the threat from weapons of mass destruction (WMD).

Continue Reading… »

M93 Fox

General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) in Sterling Heights, MI received a $19 million modification to a firm-fixed-price contract to make the M93 Fox Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Reconnaissance Systems deployed to Iraq more survivable. The Fox is in service in the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps. It detects chemical contamination in its immediate environment through point detection and at a distance of up to three miles with a stand-off detector.

GDLS’ corporate release notes that the improvement package includes slat armor, armor protection against land mines, accommodations for the CROWS remotely operated machine gun, and heavy-duty axles for 17 Fox vehicles and four spares deployed in theater. The vehicles’ swim capability will be deactivated to accommodate these improvements. Work on this contract will be performed in Anniston, AL (90%), and Camp Anaconda, Iraq (10%), and is expected to be complete by Sept. 29, 2006 under contract DAAM01-96-C-0028. This was a sole source contract initiated on Aug. 31, 1995 by the Army Research, Development, and Engineering Command at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD.

Continue Reading… »

Schaefer Corp. in Chelmsford, MA received a $6 million cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to provide for particle analysis services and non-personal services for the processing and analyzing of particle samples. These services will be used in support of the United States Atomic Energy Detection System for nuclear test ban treaty verification, on behalf of the Air Force Technical Applications Center. Work will be performed at Schafer Vallecitos Laboratory in Sunol, CA. Solicitations began in June 2005 and one proposal was received. Negotiations were completed in August 2005, and work will be complete by September 2006. The 45th Space Wing at Patrick Air Force Base, FL issued the contract (FA2521-05-C-8009)

Continue Reading… »

Earth-shattering kaboom

Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC) in San Diego, CA received a $6.1 million cost-plus award-fee contract modification to a $50 million maximum May 2000 indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract that provide for 29 major upgrades to the worldwide seismic sensor network used to monitor nuclear detonation and testing. That contract also included seismic network sustainment, and installation of four new seismic array sites.

Under Delivery Order 2405-16, Near Term Seismic Upgrade, the contractor will provide program management, site design, material procurement, production/integration, testing, packaging and shipping, installation, and documentation services at four sites (Indian Mountain, Eielson, Cambridge Bay and Burnt Mountain). The location of performance is Air Force Technical Applications Center at Patrick Air Force Base, FL. Negotiations were completed July 2005, and work will be complete by December 2006. The United States Atomic Energy Detection Systems Squadron at Patrick Air Force Base, FL issued the contract (F33657-00-D-5700).

Continue Reading… »