Nuclear, Biological, Chemical (NBC) Reconnaissance Vehicles: Current Achievements and Technology Trends at SPA
Abstract
Together with the potential use of weapons of mass destruction during military operations, we cannot forget their potential utilisation by terrorist groups. As a consequence of the Prague Conference, a new military concept for defence against terrorism was agreed by NATO nations. Projects at SPA concerning NBC reconnaissance and threat verification are structured in accordance to a pyramid-like concept: From early warning by unmanned vehicles down to thorough detection and identification by manned reconnaissance vehicles down to threat verification and operations command support by the mobile laboratories. The VRAC has been developed by SPA in co-operation with the Spanish MOD. VRAC is probably the most advanced NBC reconnaissance vehicle in operation worldwide. Friendly operation has been achieved: crewmembers (4 people) are not required to be laboratory specialists. Ongoing development projects at SPA include NBC reconnaissance shelters to be carried by light vehicles, mobile laboratories and NBC first response vehicles for security forces. Unmanned vehicles, both Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGV) and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) represent the next step in the technology and business goals for SPA. Technical challenge is to develop reliable, maintainable, miniaturised, modular NBC sensors and associated systems to meet unmanned vehicles special requirements.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 25, 2004
- Accession Number
- ADA459904
Entities
People
- Alberto Aguilar
- Antonio Benitez