Chemical warfare cleanup: US develops 2-version system to recover costly gear

Sensitive military equipment exposed to chemical or biological warfare agents could be cleaned and returned to service through a transportable system being developed for US special operations forces. Ohio-based defense contractor BLADE, formerly HDT Global, announced on October 26 that it had won a contract to continue developing the large variant of the Critical Equipment Decontamination System (CEDS). Designed for use in austere and contested locations, the system aims to help operators recover valuable equipment without sending it back to a depot or replacing it. The company did not disclose the contract’s value, duration, or number of systems covered. It also did not specify whether the award advances the program toward production. Two versions for sensitive equipment CEDS is intended to decontaminate low-density, high-value equipment, allowing troops to reuse items that might otherwise have to be discarded. Equipment processed through the system is meant to be safe enough for reissue without requiring operators to wear additional protective gear. The program includes two configurations. The small variant is an inflatable, soft-walled shelter developed by Integrated Solutions for Systems in Huntsville, Alabama. The large variant resembles a medium-sized metal shipping container. It was developed by the former HDT Expeditionary Systems unit in Fredericksburg, Virginia, according to the US Army. Both configurations address the challenge of recovering sensitive equipment after contamination. BLADE said the large system is intended to reduce the logistical demands of replacing gear and return mission-essential equipment to operators faster. Tests use real warfare agents Prototyping began in fiscal 2022. Testing has involved actual equipment exposed to real chemical and biological agents at the Czech military’s research institute, known as VVU, rather than relying on simulants. The small variant completed operational testing at the facility in December 2024. The large variant was scheduled to follow in 2025, although BLADE’s latest announcement did not provide an update on that testing. Earlier program plans targeted delivery of the first systems to US Special Operations Command units in fiscal 2027. The newly announced contract did not confirm whether that fielding target remains unchanged. The program is managed by the Joint Project Manager for CBRN Special Operations Forces under the Pentagon’s Portfolio Management Executive for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense. Recovering equipment closer to operators “Through the CEDS program, we are advancing critical decontamination capabilities that enable Special Operations Forces to recover essential equipment, sustain operations and maintain their advantage in contested environments,” said Tim Stickler, BLADE’s senior director of CBRN integrated protection and bio and chemical security. “We are proud to support this mission and provide the reliable solutions our warfighters depend on,” he added. Special operations forces are also receiving a separate capability, the Forward Area Mobility Spray System, for washing down contaminated vehicles and equipment in the field. That system includes backpack and vehicle-mounted versions. Its man-portable version reached full operational capability in May 2025, nearly three years ahead of schedule. All three spray-system variants are due to be fielded by fiscal 2028, while the latest CEDS award supports continued development of its larger equipment-decontamination configuration. Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.Atharva is a full-time content writer with a post-graduate degree in media & amp; entertainment and a graduate degree in electronics & telecommunications. He has written in the sports and technology domains respectively. In his leisure time, Atharva loves learning about digital marketing and watching soccer matches. His main goal behind joining Interesting Engineering is to learn more about how the recent technological advancements are helping human beings on both societal and individual levels in their daily lives.