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BAE SYSTEMS JCAD Chemical Agent Detector Successfully Completes Testing

26 Feb 2003

BAE Systems Joint Chemical Agent Detector (JCAD) - a portable, handheld device that can alert users to the presence of deadly chemical warfare agents - has successfully passed a key test prior to initial production. The highly advanced units are being developed for the military by BAE Systems Integrated Defense Solutions in Austin, Texas.

According to Bertha Haass, JCAD programme manager for the U.S. Air Force, "The positive results of the tests demonstrate the strong commitment of the JCAD team. This is an important step to providing the U.S. Armed forces with the chemical detection capability that JCAD offers."

The successful surety testing - part of the Contractor Validation Test (CVT) - that precedes full rate production was conducted at Calspan University of Buffalo Research Center (CUBRC), Buffalo, New York. The tests demonstrated JCAD's detection sensitivity and selectivity, false alarm rejection performance, environmental ruggedness, and overall system capabilities that met or exceeded rigorous Department of Defense performance specifications. The tests, witnessed and monitored by U.S. government experts, constituted a major milestone for the deployment of these systems to help defend military forces at home and abroad.

"We were extremely pleased with the results of these important JCAD tests," said Ronda Foster, IDS vice president and general manager for Battlespace Awareness Systems in Austin. "This accomplishment is right on track for JCAD development toward full-scale production. Our customers have also expressed strong interest in accelerating JCAD availability for our troops in the field because of JCAD's significantly improved performance over any system currently in the U.S. inventory."

The successful CVT tests were conducted using units from the Austin unit's high-volume production line, Foster said.

The JCAD is a small, lightweight, high-performance chemical detection system that offers networked or stand-alone chemical detection. It can be hand-held or operated from a vehicle or from a fixed installation. The JCAD chemical detector programme is a joint-service engineering, manufacturing and development (EMD) project administered by the Air Force at Brooks City-Base, San Antonio, Texas.

JCAD ChemSentry, the commercial version of JCAD, is now in production with more than 700 deliveries to date. Using the same design, JCAD ChemSentry offers the same features and performance of JCAD -- and is available today for civilian and military users world-wide.
Note to editors:

BAE Systems is a systems company, innovating for a safer world. BAE Systems employs nearly 100,000 people including Joint Ventures, and has annual sales of around 13 billion. The company offers a global capability in air, sea, land and space with a world-class prime contracting ability supported by a range of key skills. BAE Systems designs, manufactures and supports military aircraft, surface ships, submarines, radar, avionics, communications, electronics, guided weapon systems and a range of other defence products. BAE Systems is dedicated to making the intelligent connections needed to deliver innovative solutions.

BAE Systems North America is a high-technology U.S. company employing more than 22,000 Americans who live and work in some 30 states and the District of Columbia. The company is dedicated to solving its customers' needs with both highly innovative and leading-edge solutions across the defence electronics, systems, information technology and services arenas.

BAE Systems Integrated Defense Solutions, headquartered in Austin, Texas, employs more than 900 people at two major facilities in the United States. IDS creatively adapts and integrates technologies to rapidly produce solutions for the homeland security and defence markets. Products include chemical and biological agent detectors and systems, mine countermeasure systems, aircraft modification and assembly, airborne target presentations, aircraft countermeasures dispenser systems and expendable countermeasures, intelligent combat systems, and mission equipment upgrades.