Army gets an upgrade in countering weapons of mass destruction

Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) training is something often loathed by soldiers, as well as something they hope to never have to do in a real-world scenario. Much of the loathing comes from the type of specialized protective equipment that must be used in an environment where the enemy has deployed CBRN weapons.

The protective suits, called the Mission Oriented Protective Posture (MOPP) suit, are heavy, hot to wear, and cumbersome. Detection kits used to test for CBRN weapons have also been awkward to use and limited in what they can test for, particularly at the unit level. However, much of this is beginning to change as new protective equipment is developed.

A leap forward is also happening when it comes to detection thanks to the Aerosol Vapor Chemical Agent Detector (AVCAD). The device is designed to, "detect, identify, alarm and report threat vapors and aerosols" and can be deployed in the field as a small portable unit.

In other words, the AVCAD is a "sniffer" type of detector that takes air samples and tests them for signs of chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons having been deployed. If a test comes back positive, the AVCAD sends an alarm to the unit operating it informing them of what weapon has been deployed and warning the soldiers that they need to put on their MOPP gear.

"AVCAD comes with a lot of complexities that make this an equipment improvement for our warfighters. It can detect low levels of liquid, solid and aerosol chemical warfare agents. It’s highly sensitive and provides a remote alarm warning and reporting capability," explained Lt. Col. Brent Wilson in a press release .

The AVCAD is currently on track to be fully fielded to the U.S. Army by 2025.