Teledyne FLIR will display its Centaur UGV at DSEI 2021 in London from 14-17 September — the first time that the UGV will be seen in public outside the US.

David Viens, ex-US Army officer and VP for business development at Teledyne FLIR Unmanned Integrated Solutions, told Shephard: ‘The UGV was originally designed for the US Army as part of the MTRS Inc II [Man Transportable Robotic System – Increment II] programme of record in 2017 to outfit every single EOD and CBRNE engineer with a Centaur platform’.

The platform has since been adopted by all four US armed services, which Viens claimed is ‘a first for a US ground robotics programme where every single unit has the same platform’. He added: ‘Everybody gets to leverage the time and money invested in the army in the fielding of the programme’, including standard training plus tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs) and logistics. ‘We are not one service anymore and we don’t fight as one nation anymore. A recent example is the recent evacuation in Kabul, with British Paras next to the US 2nd Airborne Division working side-by-side.'

Benefits of the Centaur platform to NATO and Five Eyes partners include a vast cost saving, Viens noted, adding: ‘The US Army spent so much time writing the requirement, fielding, engineering, [and] improving upon it, [that] others can leverage the development that has already been done by the US military’. Since January 2020, Teledyne FLIR has announced orders totalling more than $170 million for over 1,300 Centaurs from the US Army, USN, USAF and USMC.Centaur is a medium-sized, IOP-compliant, tracked UGV that is designed to provide a stand-off capability for chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive (CBRNE) and EOD users.

The 74kg UGV can operate for up to 8h on a single charge and it can clear obstacles of just over 15cm. The five degrees-of-freedom manipulator arm has a maximum reach of just under 2m and can lift up to 14.5kg.

CBRNe World was delighted to hear that our old Deputy Editor has managed to achieve the lofty heights of SO1 CCBRN in the British Army. This is a new role that will assist in providing leadership to the Army CCBRN campaign and provide greater assistance to the UK in working with Nato partners. 

Lt. Col. Steve Johnson has moved from SO2 Trg Policy (CCBRN) to SO1 CCBRN at the Land Warfare Centre (LWC) and will sit in the Warfare branch that develops doctrine and military thinking. LWC drives adaption and innovation across training and doctrine supporting the Army and other commands. Steve’s post is a new one and he will work across a wide swathe of UK stakeholders and international partners to ensure that the Army is properly prepared for the modern CBRN threat.

Steve has worked with the magazine off and on for the past 16 years, so it is great to know that this hasn't held back his career! We have no doubt that he will help shake up the transformation with the British Army's CBRN plan and look forward to finding out more. 

The research focused on three health zones in Ituri, where more than 490 cases were recorded between 2020 and 2021, with 20 fatalities. Some 578 cases, and 44 plague-related deaths, occurred throughout the entire province during the same period. 

“The really worrying thing here is that we’ve got plague reported in areas which had not seen a case for more than 15 years, and many more cases in areas where they had very few or none previously,” said Izzy Scott Moncrieff, UNICEF Social Sciences Analytics Cell (CASS) Field Supervisor.   “There are grave consequences for children because they are more exposed to the risk factors of plague.”  

According to WHO, From epidemiological week 1 to 25, 2021 (ending on 27 June), 117 suspected plague cases including 13 deaths were reported in eight health zones in Ituri province. From January to December 2020, 461 suspected plague cases of which 31 deaths were reported in eight health zones of Ituri. The health zones of Biringi, Rethy, and Aru reported the most cases. This includes bubonic and pneumonic plague cases.

In the paste 6 weeks, the WHO has reported an additional 629 cases of Monkeypox in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). There have also been six additional monkeypox fatalities reported. 

From the beginning of the year through to August 8th, 2,523 cases have been reported with 66 deaths. In 2020, there were a total of 6,257 suspected cases including 229 deaths (CFR 3.7%) were reported in 133 health zones from 17 out of 26 provinces in the country.

Monkeypox, a rare zoonosis that occurs sporadically in forested areas of Central and West Africa, is an orthopoxvirus that can cause fatal illness. The disease manifestations are similar to human smallpox (eradicated since 1980), however human monkeypox is less severe. The disease is self-limiting with symptoms usually resolving within 14–21 days. Treatment is supportive.

Kromek, the County Durham-based radiation detection specialists, will be exhibiting for the first time at the Emergency Services Show, run in conjunction with The Security Event, at the NEC in Birmingham from September 7-9 2021. (Stand T20) The show brings together under one roof the different branches of the  emergency services and the wide range of companies which support them.

Kromek, known for its suite of portable radiation detection devices, will demonstrate a range of its trusted and established detectors including the D3 PRD, D3S, and D3M, all of which are already in use across the emergency services and with other workers in a radiation environment: https://youtu.be/ST1zafL0SJ4 

In addition, Kromek will be showing the D5 RIID, a radioisotope detector considered to be a leader in its field as the smallest, lightest and most sensitive RIID available. It also has the longest battery life and greatest connectivity of currently available handheld RIIDs.

“Radiological hazards have the potential to pose a significant challenge to the emergency services,’ said Eve Paylor, Kromek’s Product Manager. “We are excited to be showcasing our range of detectors at the Emergency Services Show this year. We have designed them with guidance from serving and former members of the emergency services to make sure they are all as user-friendly and intuitive as possible.”

Kromek specialists will be on hand to demonstrate the different detectors, and discuss how Kromek can assist the Blue Light and Emergency Services, and the CBRN response in general, throughout the exhibition.

Robotic Research, LLC, a global leader in autonomous technology and solutions, announced today that it was awarded this summer a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II contract from the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA).

As part of the two-year contract, Robotic Research will increase the capacity of its Pegasus Mini, the smallest of the company’s transforming drone/ground robot systems, which DTRA plans to incorporate into the Modular Autonomous Counter-WMD, Increment B (MACS-B) program.

Planned upgrades include changes to the airframe, battery, and computing and sensing capabilities.

"Early on, DTRA recognized how the warfighter could benefit from a hybrid unmanned system that both flies and drives. With their support, we created an initial Pegasus Mini prototype, and we now are advancing it further," said George McWilliams, Director of Advanced Programs at Robotic Research.

Pegasus Mini weighs just four pounds and is the size of a football when folded up and carried in a backpack. Deployed in the field, it can change back and forth between modes as required by the user and the environment. This gives it access to areas that might stymie a standard ground robot or drone.

"Pegasus Mini can fly into three-story windows. It can perch and stare. It can autonomously navigate, explore and map enemy tunnel systems," McWilliams said. "We see it as being a critical element in DTRA’s family of robotic systems as well as a powerful tool in the hands of other users."

The SBIR Phase II, which will include demonstrations in operationally relevant environments, is set to end in June 2023. After that, company officials say Pegasus Mini’s design will be further refined based on user feedback. In the meantime, Robotic Research’s Pegasus line of hybrid unmanned vehicles has garnered interest from allied countries, and Pegasus Mini has received industry accolades.

In May, it was nominated by the Association for Unmanned Vehicles Systems International (AUVSI) as an XCELLENCE Award finalist. 

The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA) recently announced the rollout of U.S. Nuclear Nexus, a tool designed to foster timely connections between NNSA and the U.S. nuclear industry on the global deployment of advanced nuclear technology. Nexus will act as a single point of access for NNSA and DOE National Laboratory recommendations, training, tools, and other relevant technical expertise and guidance on nonproliferation.

The site includes information about incorporating international nuclear security, nuclear safeguards, and proliferation resistance into advanced reactor designs. Nexus offers a “one-stop-shop” for the commercial nuclear industry to access NNSA guidance, as well as a human interface that will route industry requests to appropriate NNSA offices.

Nexus also will help industry better understand complex U.S. export control regulations for civilian nuclear technology The site will support NNSA’s nuclear nonproliferation missions and increase the competitiveness of U.S. nuclear technology within the global market.

Key stakeholders were consulted in the process of creating this platform to ensure that Nexus features are responsive to industry needs and offer the most relevant and high-priority content. Future plans include offering material and resources to academics working in nuclear technology.

About Nuclear Nexus

NNSA’s Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation works at home and abroad to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons and radioactive materials, while supporting the peaceful use of nuclear technology, including collaboration with industry to implement best practices. In addition to supporting this mission, Nexus supports the U.S. contribution to the global need for clean energy technology that includes advanced nuclear solutions to combat climate change and reduce carbon emissions.

In collaboration with NNSA, Nexus is maintained by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory. 

The Department of Homeland Security’s Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office (CWMD) has awarded a $6.7M task order to procure 2,364 Polimaster next-generation personal radiation detectors (PRDs) for the U.S. Coast Guard.  

Thermo Scientific 1064Defender Raman Analyzer

The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) has awarded Systems Planning and Analysis (SPA), Inc. a $185 million prime contract for Research, Development, Test and Evaluation Subject Matter Expertise Advisory and Assistance Support. SPA's responsibilities in support of the Research and Development Directorate include  CBRN subject matter expertise; science and technology (S&T) development program integration; and interagency coordination.

"We are honored to support DTRA stakeholder needs in S&T development and look forward to assisting DTRA in providing critical capabilities to the warfighter. SPA is fully committed to delivering the highest quality services in assisting DTRA with protecting our Nation," said Dr. William Vantine, SPA President and CEO.

Additional areas SPA will support include counter weapons of mass destruction and R&D operations.

Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc. is a premier provider of innovative and data-driven knowledge-based solutions in support of complex National Security programs and defense priorities. SPA's capabilities include Advanced Analytics; Software Tool Development; System Engineering and Safety Analysis; Strategy, Policy and Compliance; and Program Support. SPA employees are subject matter experts in many domains, including Land, Undersea, Surface and Air Warfare Operations; Radar and Sensor Systems; Unmanned Systems and Counter Systems; Nuclear Deterrence Policy, Safety and Security; Defense Industrial Base; Space Systems; Ballistic Missile Systems; Cybersecurity policy; and Hypersonics.

On August 18th the CDC announced a new center designed to advance the use of forecasting and outbreak analytics in public health decision making. Once established, the Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics will bring together next-generation public health data, expert disease modelers, public health emergency responders, and high-quality communications, to meet the needs of decision makers.  The new center will accelerate access to and use of data for public health decision-makers who need information to mitigate the effects of disease threats, such as social and economic disruption. The center will prioritize equity and accessibility, while serving as a hub for innovation and research on disease modeling.

“This is an amazing opportunity for CDC and public health as we stand up the country’s first government-wide public health forecasting center,” said CDC Director Rochelle P. Walensky, M.D., M.P.H. “We are excited to have the expertise and ability to model and forecast public health concerns and share information in real-time to activate governmental, private sector, and public actions in anticipation of threats both domestically and abroad.”

The center, with initial funding from the American Rescue Planexternal icon, will focus on three key functions:

• Predict: Undertake modeling and forecasting; enhance the ability to determine the foundational data sources needed; support research and innovation in outbreak analytics and science for real-time action; and establish appropriate forecasting horizons.
• Connect: Expand broad capability for data sharing and integration; maximize interoperability with data standards and utilize open-source software and application programming interface capabilities, with existing and new data streams from the public health ecosystem and beyond.
• Inform: Translate and communicate forecasts; connect with key decision-makers across sectors including government, businesses, and non-profits, along with individuals with strong intergovernmental affairs and communication capacity for action.

The new leadership team charged with the development and implementation of a plan to establish the center, includes:

• Dr. Marc Lipsitch, who will serve as Director for Science
• Dr. Dylan George, who will serve as Director for Operations
• Dr. Caitlin Rivers, who will serve as Associate Director
• Dr. Rebecca Kahn, who will serve as Senior Scientist

“I am thrilled to be joining an exceptional team at CDC to build new capabilities for the fight against pandemics,” said Dylan George, PhD. “Pandemics threaten our families and communities at speed and scale – our response needs to move at speed and scale, too.  The Center will provide critical information to communities so we can respond efficiently and effectively.  The U.S. desperately needs this capability, and I am grateful for the opportunity to help build it.”

“The new center will meet a longstanding need for a national focal point to analyze data and forecast the trajectory of pandemics with the express goal of informing and improving decisions with the best available evidence,” said Marc Lipsitch, DPhil. “I am thrilled to be working with a great team at CDC to set it up, and excited to integrate the best and most innovative ideas from academia, the private sector, and government to make this a reality that will truly improve our response to future pandemics, and indeed to other infectious diseases.”

In establishing the center, CDC is addressing a critical need to improve the U.S. government’s ability to forecast and model emerging health threats, while building on existing modeling activities, expanding collaboration through interoperability, accessibility and increased emphasis on policy-maker decision support and communication to the public.

Heat Biologics, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing first-in-class therapies to modulate the immune system, announces it has commenced development of a new biosecurity/biodefense initiative. The Company also announces it has formed an advisory board to support this initiative. Joining the new advisory board are David Lasseter, Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction, and Former US Representative Jack Kingston.

Jeff Wolf, Chief Executive Officer of Heat, commented, “This biosecurity/biodefense initiative was initially conceived as a result of our research following the COVID-19 pandemic. We recognized the need for versatile and timely response solutions to protect the U.S. against known or unknown future biological threats and embarked on the development of a platform to address this issue. I am pleased to welcome both David Lasseter and Representative Jack Kingston to our newly formed board of advisors. As Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD), Mr. Lasseter had direct oversight over the country’s biological defense programs. During his tenure in Congress, Rep. Kingston was a leading member of the House Appropriations Committee and the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, and is currently Secretariat of The Alliance for Biosecurity. I believe their expertise will be invaluable to our initiative and I look forward to providing further details as we roll out this highly differentiated approach.”

David F. Lasseter was the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction where he was responsible for, among other issues, all strategies and policies concerning preventing the proliferation of WMD and WMD-related materials; the United States Department of Defense (DoD) Cooperative Threat Reduction Program; and Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) defense. Prior to this, Mr. Lasseter worked for United Technologies Corporation as the lead defense government relations professional. He has served as a Congressional chief of staff, military legislative assistant, and counsel. He is also a Marine Corps intelligence officer in the reserve component. Mr. Lasseter received his undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia and a juris doctor from the University of Alabama. 

Former US Representative Jack Kingston is a Principal at Squire Patton Boggs, a premier, full-service global law firm that helps clients address public policy challenges in legislatures and regulatory agencies around the world. He also serves as Secretariat for The Alliance for Biosecurity, which promotes a stronger, more effective partnership between government, the biopharmaceutical industry, and other stakeholders in seeks to advance their shared goal of developing critically needed medical countermeasures. The Alliance also seeks to develop sound public policy proposals that could bolster national efforts to rapidly develop, produce, stockpile, and distribute medical countermeasures. In Congress, Rep. Kingston earned a reputation as an effective legislator with a keen ability to resolve complex matters by reaching across the aisle. Rep. Kingston’s leadership of the largest domestic appropriations subcommittee and his senior position on the defense appropriations subcommittee give him a deep understanding of the policy and financial challenges global clients face. In addition, Rep. Kingston assists with strategic counseling for the firm’s leadership in defense related issues and other specialty areas. Rep. Kingston served Georgia's 1st Congressional District in Southeast Georgia from 1993 to 2015. He also served as vice-chairman of the House Republican Conference, the sixth-ranking post among House Republicans, from 2002 to 2006.

David Lasseter further noted, “Time is of the essence when responding to a pandemic or biological threat. I look forward to working closely with Heat to advance their unique and proprietary biodefense initiative to rapidly address urgent national security needs.”