Avon Protection, a global leader in mission-critical solutions, is pleased to announce a significant milestone in its commitment to innovation within the defence industry. The renowned Artis research and development laboratory, located in Melksham, UK, has been brought into the Avon Protection brand, aligning the lab's legacy of quality with the Avon Protection name. In a world where the safety of operators is paramount, Avon Protection continues to stand at the forefront of technological innovation. "Our equipment protects over 3.5 million users around the world each day, in large part because we have continued to innovate and improve comfort and [...]

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) opened today a unique nuclear security training centre, the first international facility of its type, to support the growing efforts to tackle global nuclear terrorism. IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi officially opened the IAEA Nuclear Security Training and Demonstration Centre during a ceremony at the Agency’s Seibersdorf laboratories in Austria, attended by representatives from 45 countries and territories. The centre will provide more than 2000 square meters of specialized technical infrastructure and equipment for course participants to learn about the physical protection of nuclear and other radioactive material, as well as detection and [...]

Today, the United States has announced sanctions against multiple China based companies and individuals they alledge are involved in the production fo chemicals that are used to make fantanyl  Attorney General Merrick Garland said the drug's supply chain "often starts with chemical companies in China". The Chinese embassy in Washington has not yet responded to a request for comment by the Reuters news agency.  The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated 28 individuals and entities involved with the international proliferation of illicit drugs, including a China-based network responsible for the manufacturing and distribution of [...]

PELA Systems and M2DCON have signed a distribution agreement for North America. Peter Lashbrook, Founder of PELA Systems and Tim Meilander, Co-founder and CEO of M2DCON signed the agreement, recognizing the exciting relationship between these innovative market leaders. The two companies share a passion to protect operators and first responders who find themselves working in some of the most dangerous and challenging environments. This agreement will put the best CBRNe products into the hands of operators across the US. The bi-annual defence and security exhibition, DSEI, is believed to be the biggest in the world. In 2023, with a record-breaking [...]

QinetiQ Group plc (QinetiQ) is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a 5-year $84 million contract in the US for the testing and production of the Next Generation Advanced Bomb Suit (NGABS). The NGABS contract is a Program of Record where QinetiQ will deliver over 700 NGAB suits to the US Army. The new suit will replace the current 20 year-old bomb suit, and will provide enhanced protection to its users in their daily operations to identify, render safe, and dispose of improvised explosive devices and other explosive threats. The new suit will increase soldier survivability and readiness [...]

The Department of Defense have released the unclassified version of its 2023 Strategy for Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD).  The 2023 DOD CWMD Strategy seeks to account for current and emerging WMD challenges and threats, and provide tailored methods to address them. The Department will account for WMD threats holistically to prevent, mitigate, withstand, operate through, and recover from WMD attacks in close consultation with Allies and partners. "This Strategy lays the foundation for the Department to confront the complex and demanding challenges presented by WMD," wrote Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin in the Secretary's Foreword.   In line [...]

DTRA JSTO welcomes Dr. Robert K. Kristovich as Director of the Chemical and Biological Technologies Department, Research and Development Directorate (RD-CB) for the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA). RD-CB serves as the Joint Science and Technology Office (JSTO), an integral component of the Chemical and Biological Defense Program (CBDP). His first day was Aug. 27. As Director of DTRA JSTO, Dr. Kristovich leads an office of 200 professionals including eight divisions of scientists, researchers and administrative staff. He manages the execution of over $505 million focused on transforming science and technology (S&T) to prepare for current and emerging chemical and [...]