Advanced Field Laboratory for Switzerland

Released on Monday, June 02, 2008

As one of the leading manufacturers of armoured reconnaissance vehicles, Rheinmetall Defence's Vehicle Systems division (Rheinmetall Landsysteme GmbH) has established the NBC armoured reconnaissance vehicle Fuchs as an international benchmark for modern NBC detection. NBC reconnaissance technology used in mobile field laboratories and for civil disaster control offers a highly effective means of preparing users for the related hazards.

Field laboratory systems manufactured by Rheinmetall Defence are currently utilized by the German Army, the Swiss Army and will � in future � also be used by the Swiss as a highly mobile system for detecting NBC agents. The system is a powerful field lab than can be rapidly deployed. The laboratory cabins have all the necessary equipment needed to evaluate data required to assess NBC hazards for environmental, industrial and radiation protection. This applies both to protection against terrorist attacks and to civil disaster control.

Rheinmetall's extensive NBC protection know-how gave rise to an RFQ in September 2006 for the production of three advanced NBC kits for armasuisse, one of the four units of the Swiss Department of Defence and Civil Protection; this authority is responsible for research, development, procurement and maintenance of material and buildings of the Swiss Army.

In June 2007, an order was raised for the manufacture of three modular NBC kits. Only a few months later one of these was integrated in the Duro protected 6x6 multipurpose vehicle used by the Swiss Army. Within a matter of just three months, all three NBC kits ordered by armasuisse were fully functional and had been tested.

The scope of work included the integration of scientific analysis instruments in the respective modules, e.g. a mass spectrometer (analytical device used to determine chemical elements or combinations) in one of the modular NBC lab kits.

The Swiss customer took delivery of the units at the end of March this year. While the system was being accepted, Rheinmetall specialists in Kassel gave future field lab users of the NBC Center of Competence of the Swiss Army a special training to familiarize them with the modern system technology. The training included movement into and out of the lab in the presence of contamination/decontamination since freedom of action during an NBC emergency is especially vital.

The on-time completion of the protected equipment on a Duro IIIP chassis and the prototypes (mockups) means that further reviews can now be conducted by the Swiss Parliament. A follow-on order for a further nine NBC detection vehicles could materialize subject to a positive decision by Parliament.

This project has once again endorsed the Vehicle Systems division's outstanding expertise in the field of NBC reconnaissance � thanks also to the speedy implementation of a concept with strict quality objectives.