Royal Netherlands Army selects Smiths Detection to fulfil chemical detection requirement

Smiths Detection, the world's leading supplier of trace detection equipment, has been awarded a major contract to supply more than 150 GID-M chemical agent detectors to the Royal Netherlands Army. The equipment was selected as part of for the ACADS (Automatic Chemical Agent Detection System) programme.

GID-M has been developed to meet a number of international requirements. These include the detection of chemical warfare agents and numerous Toxic Industrial Chemicals (TICS).

GID-M is very similar to the Man Portable Chemical Agent Detector (MCAD), also made by Smiths Detection, which recently entered service with the UK Ministry of Defence. Programme and test performance data was exchanged between the UK and Dutch Governments, under an MOU, during the GID-M procurement process. Final product selection was made after comparative evaluation and testing at the TNO Prins Maurits Laboratory, and the agreement between the Royal Netherlands Army and Smiths Detection includes a number of product features unique to the Netherlands.

It is the intention of the Royal Netherlands Army to deploy the equipment on operations when deliveries commence in early 2005.

The GID-M programme continues a long relationship between the Netherlands Defence Forces and Smiths Detection (and its former business Graseby Dynamics).