DETECTION

of
NUCLEAR
BIOLOGICAL and
CHEMICAL

Maj Dr Vikneswaran Munikanan

Main prohibitions against CBW
■ 1899 Hague Peace Conferences
– Ban on use of poisoined weapons, asphyxiating or deleterious
gasses

■ 1925 Geneva Protocol

– Prohibits the use in armed conflict of CBW. However, the
development, manufacture and stockpiling of chemical
weapons and their use for the purpose of retaliation
continued to be allowed.

■ 1972 Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC)

– Comprehensive ban on development, production and possession
of BW

■ 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC)

– Comprehensive ban on development, production, possession,
and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction
 DETECTION, IDENTIFICATION AND MONITORING (DIM)

■ CB reconnaissance and survey system must be capable of:

• Verifying the hazard prediction area
• Surveying to determine the extent of liquid and particulate CB hazard
• Operating in built-up areas
■ CB identification system must be capable of:
• Identifying CB agents
• Stating the concentration of the identified hazard
• Indicating the greatest risk
• Providing spectral data
■ CB monitoring system must be capable of:
• Monitoring contaminated areas
• Operating in built-up areas
 INFORMATION MANAGEMENT (IM)
■ The IM system must be capable of:
• Warning troops endangered by CB hazard in near real time
• Making a rough estimate of CB hazard area in near real time
• Making an accurate hazard prediction
• Determining the source of contamination
• Distinguishing between an instantaneous hazard release and a continuous hazard
release
• Applying changing weather conditions to an existing hazard prediction area
• Providing CB situational awareness applicable at strategic, operational and tactical
levels
• Providing CB related decision support to commanders and staff at each level of
command
• Providing guidance for planning and execution of CB defence in all phases of
operations at each level of command
 PHYSICAL PROTECTION
■ Individual Protective Equipment (IPE) must be capable
of:
• Providing protection for the whole body for identified CB hazards
• Providing protection without significantly degrading performance.

■ Collective Protection (COLPRO) must be capable of:

• Providing fixed facility and transportable COLPRO
• Providing protection within existing splinter-proof shelters
• Continue to function in CB hazard conditions
• Be capable of self-decontaminating
 HAZARD MANAGEMENT
■ CB defence Contamination Control system must provide the
capability to:
• Limit the spread of CB contamination
• Contain CB hazards.

■ CB defence Post-Incident Hazard Management system

must:
• Decontaminate to levels required in the situation
• Decontaminate personnel
• Decontaminate small and large sensitive equipment
• Decontaminate terrain vital to mission accomplishment
• Be capable of evacuating CB decontamination effluent
 MEDICAL COUNTERMEASURES (MED CMS)
AND SUPPORT
■ For CB defence, MAF must be capable of providing safe,
effective, licensed medical countermeasures to potentially
exposed personnel. The system must be capable of safely
evacuating casualties from CB contaminated areas and
evacuating CB casualties through uncontaminated areas.

■ In addition, the system must provide:

• Prophylactic protection before exposure
• First aid self-treatments against CB agents
• First Aid treatment of casualties in a CB environment
 CURRENT REQUIREMENTS CB DEFENCE IN MAF
■ The need to increase general knowledge of CB defence matters across the rank structure.
Provide CB situational awareness to all levels of command

■ The need to equip with CB equipment and enhance training to increase defence readiness. CB
equipment esp surveillance, detection, indentification, monitoring, decontamination

■ The need to enhance a qualified CB defence staff. Comprehensive training related to CB

environment CW, HADR, Counter Terrorism.

■ The need to Cooperate with the other local agencies, other first responder in domestic
operations where a CB risk exists

■ The need to Cooperate with other international military related to CB.

 Army Responsibilities.
The Army is responsible for the following:
a. Development of material requirements and single service management of
individual and collective protection material.

b. Conducting CB reconnaissance and survey

c. Provision of common user items of protective clothing, items of

decontaminants, filters and other consumables.

e. Provision of decontamination personnel, equipment and facilities for a

deployable in land operations.

f. Assistance in provision of meteorological data for CB hazard prediction