NBC Defence Institute

Chemical and Radiation Defence Department

Department is responsible for preparation of future officers of the Chemical Corps and teachers who are involved in the process of teaching and training in the area of Chemical Warfare Agents (CWA)  and Nuclear Weapons Defence (NWD).

The main activity which the department accomplishes is education in general subjects  – like General and Organic, Analytical or  Physical chemistry, Biology, Nuclear chemistry, Radiochemistry and specialized subjects, for example – Instrumental methods of analysis, Chemistry of CWA, Chemical Weapon, Toxicology, Radiological protection, Nuclear weapon, Dosimetry etc.

Other activities which the department accomplishes are:

  • laboratory training with CWA and radioactive agents,
  • radiochemistry training, Courses for CBRN specialists,
  • preparation of AL-2/ch and AL-2/r laboratory operators,
  • both training and education activities according to Ministry of Defence tasks.

Main attention of the department is concentrated on the academic research:

Firstly, in the field of the analysis of highly toxic agents – it means not only Chemical Warfare Agents but also Toxic Industrial Chemicals, heavy metals and so on. NBC Defence Institute specialists concentrate their research on:

  • applied research in the area of CWA detection;
  • research of characteristics of new and potential CWA (R33, Novichok, PFIB);
  • research of characteristic of psychoactive agents (Kolokol-1), Herbicides and TICs;
  • research of biochemical cholinesterase methods.

Outputs of academic research are applied in development of Czech Army chemical survey and control technical means.

Secondly, academic work of this department is focused on:

  • research in area of analysis of radioactive material (SIRA Laboratory and Czech Armed Forces radiation monitoring network);
  • development of identification methods of radioactive agents (Alpha and Gamma Spectrometry, Liquid scintillation, etc.);
  • development of instruments for analysis of radioactive agents (Analyzers, Spectrometers, Counters);
  • development of radiochemical methods (Liquid extraction and separation).

Chemical and Nuclear Protection Department has solved a lot of academic research projects in these areas: 

In the area of research division of CWA:

  • COMPOUNDS – this project solved problems of analytical control of chemical weapons and other military significant compounds;
  • CH-MOBIL – Mobile means of chemical survey and control;
  • TOXIN II – Mobile analysis of military significant toxic agents;
  • CONTROL – Analytical control of ecotoxic and toxic agents;
  • MEANS – Research of simple means and methods for identification of military significant toxic chemical agents. 
  • SPS NATO – Solid state gas sensors against security and military threats. 

 In the area of nuclear protection:

  • PHARE EC-HEA/10-CZ (EU) – protection of natural sources of protected location (Natural radioactivity);
  • RADIONUCLIDES – monitoring natural and manmade radionuclides in environment;
  • ARMY – monitoring natural radioactivity and TIM;
  • SEPARATION (SRN-CZ) – reagent for selective extraction select metal;
  • KRIZMAN – force and civilian protection against radioactive agents;
  • RADIOACTIVITY – analysis of military significant radioactive agents.

 

The most important implemented research outputs in the field of CWA are: 

  • DETEHIT – individual detector of nerve agents
  • PP-3 – chemical detector paper for liquid CWA
  • PT – test tubes – CWA 30 types, TIC 40 types
  • CHP-5 – chemical detector kit
  • PPCHL AL-2/CH – deployable chemical laboratory
  • PCHL-90 – portable chemical laboratory
  • CAW 2000 – portable water control laboratory
  • DETEGAS – TIC detector kit
  • ORI-217 – CWA detector kit

 

The department has a great number of other activities: 

  • SIRA (Sampling and Identification of Radiological Agents) – fixed radiometric laboratory workplace. NBC Institute is a part of NATO certificated laboratory structure;
  • JCG on CBRN Defence/SIBCRA a R&ND SubGroup – NATO teams for SIBCRA and protection in R&N areas;
  • ARMS AČR (Monitoring network) – subsidize laboratory in system of the Czech Armed Forces radiation monitoring network;
  • CPS-UIS Laboratory – reference laboratory for measurement of natural radioactivity for CPS-UIS/UNESCO.