One of the little discussed missions tasked to the Special Operations community is their counter-weapons of mass destruction mandate. This mission could take a number of forms but thankfully has never had to be executed. For example, SOF could be tasked to locate and secure a "loose nuke" held by a terrorist group or they could be deployed to interdict WMDs in underground bunkers held by foreign adversaries before they can be deployed.
Using SOF to secure so-called "Improvised Nuclear Devices" is a mission set that began in the 1980s and picked up momentum in the 1990s when SOCOM almost received a mission to destroy an underground chemical weapons plant in Libya. Over the decades, the technology used for these missions has changed significantly as highlighted by the recent Dragon Spear exercise held in Virginia Beach, which included over 400 participants.
The main objective of the four-day Dragon Spear exercise was to test new technologies that would enhance effectiveness in the field, including new sensors, wearable health monitoring devices, a new protective uniform.
For several decades service members have worn bulky, hot, and uncomfortable protective suits (called JLIST) over their normal work uniform with a gas mask to protect them from chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats. The unwieldy name of this new uniform is the UIPE FOS GP suit, which is designed to function like a normal military uniform while adding the protective qualities needed for the counter-WMD mission.
Other technologies tested included advanced chemical detection sensors. As these technologies have been miniaturized they are increasingly being mounted on robotics that can enter and recon potentially contaminated areas ahead of ground troops. Two of the sensors were tested at the vapor chemical agent detector (CVCAD) and the proximate chemical agent detector (PCAD).
Also being developed and tested are new wearable technologies that can be integrated into the new protective uniform or worn as a module attached to the skin. "The devices included three wearable hydration monitoring systems, a biometric device (known as the Halo) worn behind the ear, and the Hexoskin, a base-layer 'smart garment' used to collect vital signs without monitors that adhere to the skin," a SOCOM release describes.
These technologies are designed to protect the, "men and women who will one day rely on these technologies to protect them and their battle buddies from some of the scariest threats imaginable," SOCOM says.