908 Devices to Develop Lightweight Chemical Detection Kit For US Warfighters

US based 908 Devices today announced it has been awarded a contract for the development of advanced chemical detection devices by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA).

Under this development program, 908 Devices will integrate Gas Chromatography (GC) with its core HPMS technology creating a compact, lightweight chemical detection device that will provide warfighters with broader and more advanced analysis capabilities downrange.

DTRA fuels next-generation technology development programs with the goal of providing the Department of Defense (DoD) the means for countering threats posed by weapons of mass destruction and Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosives (CBRNE) threats.

These developments support a range of Joint Program Executive Office (JPEO) acquisition programs for Chemical and Biological Defense including the Next Generation Chemical Detector (NGCD) Program managed by the JPEO’s Joint Project Manager for Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Contamination Avoidance.

“We are honored to receive this contract from DTRA and support their mission to better equip our U.S. warfighters with improved threat detection capabilities,” said Dr. Kevin Knopp, President and CEO, 908 Devices. “Today’s responders are faced with a wider array of threats than ever before, and as the mission expands so must the toolkit.

We believe the development of new product variants based on our core HPMS technology platform will play a key role in the future of threat detection and strengthen mission support.”

Under this program, 908 Devices will subcontract with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH) along with other commercial entities and national laboratories.  Professor J. Michael Ramsey, Goldby Distinguished Professor of Chemistry at UNC-CH and collaborators initially developed HPMS technology under funding from the Defense Advanced Research Agency (DARPA), Department of Energy (DOE) and DTRA.

This platform has become the backbone behind 908 Devices’ product line, including the flagship product, M908, launched in 2014. M908 is a handheld survey tool for priority threat detection and is expanding first responder capabilities around the globe.

The addition of GC separation to the core HPMS platform will be a significant milestone that brings enhanced analytical capabilities to a diverse range of markets in addition to the company’s core safety and security customers.