WATFORD, England, 23 February 2005. Smiths Detection has been awarded contract modifications worth more than $56 million by the U.S. Department of Defense, for the supply of Automatic Chemical Agent Detector/Alarms (ACADA). Under the contracts, more than 5,200 units plus additional support equipment will be supplied, to provide continuous monitoring of chemical threats in battle zones or high risk areas.
ACADA is based on the Smiths Detection proprietary detection unit GID-3. It is an advanced point-sampling, chemical agent alarm system that is capable of detecting standard blister and nerve agents and simultaneously providing warnings.
"This major contract is very significant for Smiths Detection, demonstrating the high levels of confidence held in our chemical detection equipment by Military forces," said Robert Judd, president of Smiths Detection-Military.
"With the addition of the latest contract, the number of our ACADA units in service with U.S. forces will approach 30,000. It provides a high level of detection sensitivity and has been proven in the most arduous conditions, including Iraq."
Under contracts starting in 1998, Smiths Detection supplied more than 22,000 ACADA (GID-3) units to the DoD, for deployment with the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. A further contract for more than 1,600 units, principally for the National Guard, was awarded in 2004.
Smiths Detection is one of four operating divisions of Smiths Group plc. Smiths Detection offers technologically advanced security solutions to detect and identify explosives, chemical & biological agents, weapons and contraband. Employing trace detection technology together with Smiths Heimann X-ray imaging, Smiths Detection provides screening solutions for customers in civil and military markets worldwide. For more information see www.smithsdetection.com.
