General Dynamics to roll out detection systems

General Dynamics (GD) Armament and Technical Products, of Charlotte, North Carolina, was awarded a $43,081,582 firm fixed-price contract for the purpose of the exercise of options under existing contract for 60 Joint Biological Point Detection Systems as well as related fielding support packages, system testing, and user training. One bid was solicited and one bid received for the contract that has an estimated completion date of December 30, 2009. Work is to be performed at Columbus, Ohio (60 percent) and Charlotte, North Carolina (40 percent).

Note: This would seem to relate to activities last fall.

In October 2007 U.S. Department of Defense asked GD to participate in the first major phase of Increment 2 of the Joint Chemical Agent Detector (JCAD) Program. Their JUNO incorporates "differential mobility spectrometry (DMS) technology, providing better detection, sensitivity and selectivity compared with that of traditional, handheld ion mobility spectrometry (IMS)-based chemical agent detectors."

The units "... feature(s) a simple, cell phone-style interface and is capable of detecting, identifying, quantifying and alerting individual warfighters to the presence of chemical agent vapors. In addition, as new chemical threats emerge, JUNO(TM)'s software can be upgraded and its detection library capacity can be expanded. It can be used in handheld, fixed-site, ground vehicle, shipboard and aircraft interior applications."

At that time the Sionex Corp. announced that they were supplying GD with the DMS technology.

Souces: DoD and GD Armament and Technical Products
Photo: General Dynamics