Defense Dept. contracts for detection tech

EDGEWOOD, Md., Aug. 12 (UPI) -- The U.S. Defense Department has awarded a follow-on contract to Smiths Detection for the company's lightweight chemical threat detection technology.

The $28.5 million Defense Department contract adds to an award Smiths Detection received in March for $23.8 million. Under the follow-on deal, Smiths Detection's military division will supply a modified version of the company's lightweight chemical detectors in support of the Joint Chemical Agent Detector program.

Military officials contracted Smiths Detection for its M4 JCAD modified threat detection technology because of its smaller and lighter design and for its additional survey capabilities.

"We are pleased that our LCD units are effectively providing troops with advanced chemical threat detection," Mal Maginnis, Smiths Detection Global Military and Emergency Responders president, said in a statement.

"The M4 JCAD has the capability of two instruments in one: a point detector monitoring air for chemical warfare agents and toxic industrial chemicals, as well as a survey instrument that can check for contamination."