Smiths Detection, a leading provider in threat detection and security screening technologies, has been selected to supply its LCD 4 personal chemical detectors to the Japan Ministry of Defence (JMOD) for deployment by the Japan Ground Self-Defence Force (JGSDF).

Following a rigorous and competitive evaluation, the JMOD selected the LCD 3.3 and LCD 4 for their exceptional performance, flexibility, and seamless integration into existing defense systems.

“The JMOD’s decision to invest in this technology underlines the LCD’s status as the most widely deployed personal chemical detector in armed forces across the globe,” commented Dr Sarah Robinson, Portfolio Director - CBRNE at Smiths Detection. “We are customising this new consignment to meet the specific detection demands of the JMOD and, of course, to include a Japanese language option.”

Compact and wearable, the LCD 4 provides advanced warning by detecting and identifying gas and vapor threats at or below immediate danger to life and health (IDLH) levels. Utilizing state-of-the-art Ion Mobility Spectrometry (IMS) technology, it can determine the agent type, class, concentration, and dosage of chemical exposure.

In the future, a simple XID add-on could enhance detection capabilities to include solid and liquid sampling, as well as the identification of narcotics, explosives, and low-volatility chemical threats, such as Novichok.

The contract, managed locally by Smiths Detection’s distribution partner S.T. Japan, includes 462 units, with deliveries scheduled in phases between January and March 2025 and January 2026.