
908 Devices Begins Roll-Out of Biothreat Detection Systems in Support of Department of Defense AVCAD Program
908 Devices Inc. (Nasdaq: MASS), a leading provider of purpose-built handheld and desktop devices for chemical and biochemical analysis, has announced the commencement of the initial production phase of the Aerosol and Vapor Chemical Agent Detector (AVCAD) program in partnership with Smiths Detection. In this phase, the two companies will produce 122 systems.
The AVCAD systems, which have been under development and testing since 2019, represent a cutting-edge chemical detector designed to identify and report the presence of traditional and advanced threat vapors and aerosols. Equipped with wireless remote alarm capability, the AVCAD is versatile, as it can be either mounted or portable, and is intended to support missions for the U.S. Army, Navy, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps.
What sets the AVCAD apart is its utilization of 908 Devices’ High Pressure Mass Spectrometry (HPMS) technology. The company launched the MX908 Beacon in July. The system offers extended battery life, with over eight hours of operation and 16 hours of standby time, making it suitable for continuous remote monitoring. The MX908 Beacon employs the MX908 high-pressure mass spectrometer and the Aero module, which enables cloud-based intelligence gathering from a distance. The Beacon is capable of monitoring the air for highly toxic substances, including fentanyl and Novichok nerve agents. Moreover, it has applications in Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive (CBRNE) operations, decontamination line monitoring, vehicle-mounted systems, and clandestine lab dismantling operations. One of its notable features is the ability to function as a standalone unit or seamlessly integrate with other Beacons for extensive area coverage. Control and monitoring of the MX908 Beacon can be performed through the MX908 Beacon Portal, accessible via a variety of devices such as smartphones, laptops, or mobile devices. The system is designed for quick setup and real-time data streaming, facilitating easy deployment in the field. This advanced solution offers enhanced security and intelligence capabilities for various monitoring and response scenarios.
Kevin J. Knopp, CEO and Co-founder of 908 Devices, expressed the company’s satisfaction with the ongoing collaboration with the U.S. Department of Defense and Smiths Detection. He highlighted the significance of being selected for the limited production phase, indicating that it validates their technology as a new standard for chemical detection and showcases their commitment to protecting the U.S. military.
In 2019 Smiths Detection (SDI) was selected by the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DOD) Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense (JPEO-CBRND)’s Joint Project Manager, Nuclear Biological Chemical Contamination Avoidance (JPM-NBC CA) to be a supplier for AVCAD. 908 Devices is a partnered subcontractor.