Canada buys new simulators for chemical warfare

The Canadian government announced on November 30 the awarding of a $ 6.6 million contract to Patlon Aircraft, Halton Hills, Ontario, for simulators to improve training for Canadian soldiers in the use of sensors chemical agents.

To fulfill its mandate, the Canadian Forces must be able to function despite the presence of a Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear.

These simulators used to train soldiers of the Canadian Forces on the use of new portable devices for detecting chemical warfare agents and industrial chemicals in the context of military operations.

Patlon established for this contract in partnership with the British company Argon Electronics Bedfordshire Argon simulators to provide for new chemical sensors. The Patlon provide virtual training system wireless Argon, PlumSIM, which electronically simulates the release of chemicals in a wide range of environmental conditions and initial training and in-service support throughout the product life .

The simulator Argon allow the Canadian Forces to train to handle the new detectors without the use of chemical sprays, which is both economically and ecologically.

In addition, instructors will be able to electronically monitor workouts. The simulator will be used primarily to Fire Academy and the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Canadian Forces, the Canadian Forces Base Borden, in southern Ontario, and instructors specializing in defense chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear units based in the Canadian Forces across Canada.

The first simulator will be delivered in the spring of 2013. It is expected that full operational capability will be reached in the coming years.

The press release accompanying this announcement underscores that "the project simulators chemical detectors are part of a project to acquire much larger (85 million) by which the Canadian Forces will acquire (...) detectors of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear weapons, protective equipment, reconnaissance systems and decontamination, as well as new medical countermeasures to strengthen the ability (...) to survive and carry operations in an environment contaminated by chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear weapons. "