BiodefenseHarris Corp. awarded $9 million Army contract to boost biodefense
The U.S. Army recently signed a $9 million deal with Harris Corp. to bolster the army’s biological defense capabilities; Harris will provide the Army’s Joint Biological Point Detection System (JBPDS) with its advanced Falcon II AN/PRC-150 high-frequency radio system; the radio system is capable of detecting and identifying biological warfare agents and will automatically send alerts to headquarters when it senses the presence of these agents; JBPDS is a portable self-contained unit designed to automatically detect and identify airborne biological agents
The U.S. Army recently signed a $9 million deal with Harris Corp. to bolster the army’s biological defense capabilities. Harris Corp will provide the Army’s Joint Biological Point Detection System (JBPDS) with its advanced Falcon II AN/PRC-150 high-frequency radio system.
The radio system is capable of detecting and identifying biological warfare agents and will automatically send alerts to headquarters when it senses the presence of these agents.
According to Brendan O’Connell, the president of Harris Corp’s defense department, the AN/PRC-150 “[gives] U.S. forces the maximum amount of time to respond to potentially significant threats.”
The devices offer continuous coverage on high frequency ranges in the 1.6 to 60 MHz range.
JBPDS is a portable self-contained unit designed to automatically detect and identify airborne biological agents. The units can also be rigged for use aboard ships.
Last year, General Dynamics was awarded a six-year $30 million contract to supply the Army with these portable detection and alert systems.
The program was initiated after 9/11 and as of 10 September 2010, 700 units have been delivered.
Construction of the units is scheduled to begin in April of this year at General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products’ production facility in Charlotte, North Carolina.
