Smiths Detection receives $27.3 million Department of Defense contract for Automatic Chemical Agent Detector Alarm (ACADA) units

Flexible and Accurate ACADA Units Can be Carried, Mounted or Remotely Deployed to Warn Soldiers of the Presence of Chemical Warfare Agents

17 May 2006 - Smiths Detection, a world leading provider of chemical, biological and explosives detectors, and X-ray security screening equipment, today announced its Military unit has been awarded a $27.3 million Automatic Chemical Agent Detector Alarm (ACADA) contract from the Department of Defense, with a contract ceiling of $74 million over the next five years. Smiths Detection is supplying the military with GID-3(tm) chemical agent detectors for the ACADA program.

The ACADA is an advanced point-sampling, chemical warfare agent detection system that continuously monitors for the presence of nerve agents and blister chemicals using IMS (Ion Mobility Spectrometry) technology. It provides early warning of chemical attacks and can be remotely deployed, vehicle mounted or carried by soldiers.

"Through Smiths Detection's innovative engineering, we have developed a sophisticated product that fills a critical need in troop protection, and has been proven under the most extreme conditions" said Tim Picciotti, Vice President and General Manager, Smiths Detection Military. "Approximately 1000 units have been funded by Congress specifically for use by the U.S. Army National Guard to reduce the critical equipment shortage facing the troops."

Since 1998, Smiths Detection has supplied more than 30,000 ACADA (GID-3) units to the Department of Defense for deployment with the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and National Guard. 10,000 GID-3 units have been purchased by other customers and deployed worldwide.


About Smiths Detection:
Smiths Detection is one of four operating divisions of Smiths Group. Based in Edgewood, Maryland, Smiths Detection-Military continues its 50 year history of providing the military with a range of products that protect armed forces. 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.


Media Contacts:

Olivia Deffenderfer
Smiths Detection
Military
Phone: 401-510-9281
olivia.deffenderfer@smithsdetection.com

David Olsen
Coltrin & Associates (For Smiths Detection)
Phone: 212-221-1616, X-118
david_olsen@coltrin.com