Chembio Weapons ELIM TECH DEV

Chemical and biological weapons (CBW)-based threats continue to evolve in response to changing geopolitics and emerging technologies. Each of the nations that are deemed as threats to United States (U.S.) national security are believed to have and/or be developing chemical and/or biological weapons. The Department of War (DoW) must be prepared to eliminate these threats during and/or after the execution of a contingency operation or in support of a diplomatic breakthrough, enabling the U.S. to achieve peace through strength and strengthen deterrence. Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) obligations and DoW strategic guidance demand the Department maintain a complete and enduring capability to assess and destroy CBW, regardless of location or environment. In accordance with the CWC and BWC, the U.S. must be prepared to “destroy [chemical/biological] weapons…in its possession or…under its jurisdiction or control.” It is critical for the DoW to match CBW-based threats by possessing the capabilities to directly disable or defeat WMD threats prior to use. This capability must provide operational flexibility that enables early action and expedient destruction, from small-scale disablement and defeat in a non-permissive or austere environment to large-scale destruction of a foreign CBW stockpile in a post-contingency or permissive environment. These capabilities will positively influence deterrence and project Peace Through Strength. Our current capabilities are inadequate to support these requirements, and we are currently unable to invest in the development and/or improvement of capabilities to eliminate CBW on the scale required. The Department must be proactive in ensuring we are prepared to eliminate known and expected CBW threats before adversary use against U.S. military or civilian personnel at home or abroad or our allies. The Chemical and Biological Weapons Elimination (CBWE) Research and Development Activities (RDAs) support the Department’s initiatives to rebuild our military and reestablish deterrence by ensuring a complete and enduring capability to assess and destroy chemical and biological weapons (CBW), regardless of location or operational environment. This program addresses Joint Force priorities, tasks, and requirements.