Novel Technologies for CWMD and Related Threats - Open Topic

Objective: Develop novel technologies with commercial and national security applications that enable the detection (or indication and warning) of radiological or nuclear threats without the need for bespoke sensors—using only signals from general-purpose military hardware, commercially-available devices proliferate in civil society, and publicly-available data sources. Description: DTRA is the lead Department of Defense Agency responsible for developing science and technology to deter, detect, and defeat weapons of mass destruction (WMD). Our ability to advance Joint Force capabilities to detect WMD threats is challenged by the timelines and costs associated with developing, testing, and producing new military hardware. The limited commercial market for radiological and nuclear detection equipment contributes to these challenges. This open topic is seeking solutions that can help to detect the storage, transfer, or use of WMD (and related materials and delivery systems) through the novel use of signals from existing general-purpose deployed military hardware or non-specialized commercial equipment. Examples could include microphones, cameras, motion detectors, passive infrared, and other common sensors that exist today on a wide variety of military platforms and consumer devices. Keywords: CWMD; Nuclear; Radiological; Chemical; Biological; Prevention; Attribution; Response and Recovery