Cassidian, the new name for European Defence giant EADS’ Defence and Security Division, announced that they have set up an Innovation Works to promote Security Research. They have also endowed a Chair of Detection Technology at Bonn-Rhine-Sieg University of Applied Science, and are interested in detection of explosive and hazardous substances by chemical or physical means. Their research will focus on more reliable and cost-effective methods of rapid response.

Almsco, a division of Markes International, announced that they had launched their TargetView Software package, which has been designed to automate and improve detection and measurement of multiple target chemicals in complex GCMS data sets. The software will allow users to shorten the identification time and reduce false positives/negatives by allowing a simpler way of targeting key compounds. Almsco state that training on the software is not significant and that it requires no in depth knowledge of deconvolution or chemometrics.

Bruhn Newtech announced that they had secured a long term CBRN Analysis, Maintenance and Support Contract for the Armed Forces of Norway. Bruhn will also have to provide capability upgrades for their CBRN Analysis battlefield management tool.

Winvale, government procurement consultants to the likes of Northrop, ICx and Rapiscan, have teamed up with Universal Detection Technology (UDT) to sell their range of early warning monitoring technology to various US government agencies. UDT are re-sellers of other detection equipment, such as Mirion’s and Morphix.

Out of the various new items of kit that caught the editors eye in CBRNe Convergence was a little number from Force1 Decon. Force1 have previously been known for their rapid-erect personal decon stations, which were quite natty, and now they have come up with a lightweight mask mounted LED lighting system.

Also getting the 'nod’ was Camelbak’s ChemBio Reservoir X, their next generation hydration equipment, which was signed off by the DoD for their Multi-Purpose Personal Hydration System requirements. Using their DuraFlex Barrier, HydroGuard and HydroLink attachment they feel that it sets a new standard for providing hands free access to safe drinking water.

Members of the European CBRN defence community will be well aware of Dr Jan Medema – he has been in CBRN since Noah was a boy – but they, and others, might not know that you can get a copy of his latest book – FOR FREE! – from the internet on http://members.ziggo.nl/jan.medema. Jan admitted that this might seem a bit of an odd business model, but he states that he was well paid over the years to acquire this knowledge and wants to give something back, he admits that not everyone will agree with the content, but feels that they will have to go a long way to prove the science wrong. At 3mb it won’t break the data-pipe either…

The Department of Defense’s Explosive Safety Board (DDESB) has approved Nabco’s Total Containment Vessels across the US military services. While the TCV has been used by various militaries for decades they feel that this seal of approval will allow greater access to their equipment, streamline safety protocols and increase confidence in their products.

North Korea admitted that it had thousands of centrifuges operating at a previously undetected uranium enrichment facility – as you do! Siegfried Hecker, a Stanford University Scientist, visited the facility at Yongbyon and was astonished to see the centrifuges which are claimed to be for civil electricity generation: \"At this time, we are actively building a light water reactor and in order to meet the demand, we are operating a modern uranium enrichment system with many thousands of centrifuges,\" stated the North Korean news agency KCNA. Prof Hecker admitted that the plant did in deed seem to be for electricity generation but added that it could be modified to produce HEU.

Canadian stand off detection company Telops was proud to announce a $1.8 million contract with the Polish Military University of Technology for two of their Hyper Cams. Their hyper spectral imaging devices will be further customised to the Universities requirements – which is to support research and education in the opto-electronic field.

Who knows where the Doomsday Clock will be in 2011 as North Korea’s shelling of Yeonbyeong Island, killing four, in response to border exercise from ROK forces brought a potential new World War into view. The World held its breath as the US condemned the attacks and China… paused and waited. At time of writing the situation seems to have stabilised, with the US promising support and further exercises. There is very little unpleasant that North Korea doesn’t possess – one of the few with the full range of CBRN – and the chances of this conflict going hot are very concerning.

In what might be evidence of a trend 3M and Northrop Grumman announced a $15.8 million contract from DHHS to deliver their integrated diagnostic capability – MDx. Their system will allow rapid, high-throughput surveillance and molecular diagnostics and will see £M receive $6 million and Northrop $9.8 million.