Leidos Australia has signed a contract with the Commonwealth for the provision of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear defence (CBRND) for Project LAND 2110 Phase 1B.

The contract, valued at $243.5 million, is for the acquisition and initial support phase over five years, and will see Leidos deliver critical CBRND capability to Defence.

The company says the primary objective of the joint CBRND capability is to provide force protection to deployed ADF personnel against extant and emerging CBRN threats including environmental hazards. Additional objectives of the ADF’s CBRND capabilities are to enhance support to other government agencies in domestic CBRN incidents, and to assist integration in a coordinated whole of government effort.

The project will deliver and sustain capabilities in Detection, Identification and Monitoring, Warning and Reporting, Physical Protection, Hazard Management and Medical Support.

“Leidos has a long heritage of delivering complex logistics and CBRND capability globally, and we are delighted to be chosen to deliver this critical capability to the ADF,” Leidos Australia Chief Executive Christine Zeitz said.

Minister for Defence Christopher Pyne said global events in this year alone have demonstrated that chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats are contemporary hazards throughout the world.

“Leidos Australia will be a key capability partner of the ADF for the delivery and support of cutting edge technology to protect our soldiers on the battlefield as they encounter these evolving threats,” he said.

“The contracts will supply approximately 70,000 equipment items to support Defence’s capability to detect and protect itself from toxic industrial chemicals and weaponised chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear agents. This investment will provide an integrated and layered chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defence capability which replaces ageing equipment reaching the end of its service life.”