Military

Joint Biological Point Dectection System (JBPDS)

The Joint Biological Point Detection System (JBPDS) is to provide early warning and identification of biological warfare agents to supported forces. It will provide biological agent point-detection, identification, and sampling capability for both fixed-site and mobile operations. The system is to automatically detect and identify up to ten agents simultaneously in less than 15 minutes.

The JBPDS is intended to be man-portable or installed onboard ships, in shelters mounted on high-mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle -heavy variants, or on trailers. The capabilities of each configuration are common and will eventually be used by each of the Services. JBPDS will be integrated into the Joint Services Light Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Reconnaissance System. The Army will incorporate JBPDS into the Stryker Reconnaissance Vehicle. The Army fielded the JBPDS to the 375th Biological Detection Company during FY03, and the Air Force plans to field it in FY04. In December 1996, the Joint Program Manager for Biological Defense approved the Milestone II decision for JBPDS, and the system transitioned into the engineering and manufacturing development phase. DOT&E placed the JBPDS on oversight in January 2000.

In February 2002, the Army requested an urgent fielding of the JBPDS shelter variant to upgrade the 310th Chemical Company and in April 2002, requested urgent fielding of the JBPDS for the 375th Chemical Company due to the heightened threat to deployed forces. In April 2002, the Air Force also requested an urgent fielding, identifying the deployment of a trailer variant for high-threat air bases in Europe.

Adequate whole-system testing will be the basis for characterizing JBPDS biological warfare and simulant detection performance before a full-rate production decision, according to DOT&E.