EDA to take forward CBRN surveillance project
The European Defence Agency (EDA) will support the development of the PESCO CBRN Surveillance as a Service (CBRN SaaS) project as an agency initiative, the agency announced on 12 November.
The Austrian-lead CBRN SaaS project will provide a rapidly deployable 24/7 chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) surveillance capability. The project aims to maximise the use of unmanned systems which will be equipped with a variety of sensors to deliver a real time CBRN surveillance, detection and incident management capability for both civilian and military purposes.
CBRN SaaS is being led by Austria, with Croatia, Hungary and Slovenia taking part. It will now be taken forward as an EDA project.
CBRN SaaS will establish an unmanned sensor network consisting of UAS and UGS that will be interoperable with legacy systems. When combined with communications and data networks it will deliver a Recognised CBRN Picture that enhances knowledge-based decision making by leaders. In focusing on the deployment of unmanned systems, operational flexibility will be increased and reduces the risk to the operators.
Jorge Domecq, chief executive, EDA, said: ‘EDA is delighted to take this project forward and support our Member States. CBRN SaaS will benefit from EDA’s extensive experience of delivering defence cooperation projects, especially the insights gained from the EDA CBRN joint investment programme.
‘CBRN agents and weapons are a source of great concern, effective surveillance is therefore a crucial capability. As endorsed by the EU’s Capability Development Plan, developing enhanced CBRN capabilities based on newly available technologies such as unmanned systems is a priority that will enhance Europe’s resilience and preparedness to deal with CBRN threats.’
The CBRN SaaS main deliverable will be an operational plugin module for widely varying civilian missions and CSDP or NATO military operations. In addition, the generated Recognised CBRN Picture can be offered as a power by the hour service to others in need of CBRN surveillance.
The project will run until 2022, and will deliver a demonstrator that provides a proof of concept.
More from Land Warfare
-
![Supply of new self-propelled guns is rising to meet looming demand]()
Supply of new self-propelled guns is rising to meet looming demand
As the need for self-propelled artillery continues to climb across Europe and NATO-allied nations, orders for existing capabilities continue to roll in while new and improved weapons are on the way.
-
![US Army seeks industry support to prepare acquisitions of Group 4+ UAVs]()
US Army seeks industry support to prepare acquisitions of Group 4+ UAVs
The US Army is keen to hear about vendor designs, strategies and potential hardware and software solutions to inform requirements for procurement efforts.
-
![Dedicated drone munitions could unlock modular mission potential]()
Dedicated drone munitions could unlock modular mission potential
Top attacks have proven effective against heavily armoured vehicles in Ukraine. A new family of uncrewed aerial system-delivered munitions is looking to press that advantage further.
-
![Elbit bets on local content for US howitzer bid as it faces off against popular systems]()
Elbit bets on local content for US howitzer bid as it faces off against popular systems
The Israeli company hopes that producing its Sigma artillery system wholly in the US will help it win a key US Army contract, but it will be up against the popular CAESAR Mk II wheeled weapon and the K9 tracked.
-
![Germany orders 84 Boxer howitzers as UK commits to a single demonstrator]()
Germany orders 84 Boxer howitzers as UK commits to a single demonstrator
Germany has ordered 84 RCH 155 self-propelled guns, as system incorporating Boxer 8×8 vehicles and the Artillery Gun Module, and 200 Puma Infantry Fighting Vehicles while the UK has committed to a single Early Capability Demonstrator RCH 155.
