Smiths Detection, AeroVironment and US Army Collaborate on Chemical Agent-Detecting UAV

UAV Technology Combined with Powerful Chemical Sensors and Advanced Algorithms
Enable Rapid Aerial Chemical Detection and Tracking
EDGEWOOD, Md.--(Business Wire)--
Smiths Detection today announces the successful creation and demonstration of an
unmanned aircraft chemical detection and identification system capable of
warning troops against chemical warfare agents. The detection and identification
system, able to fit in the interchangeable nose cone of a Raven UAV, is a result
of the collaborative efforts between Smiths Detection, AeroVironment, Inc. (AV)
(Nasdaq: AVAV), the U.S. Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Center and other U.S.
Department of Defense (DoD) laboratories.

To provide safe and effective standoff detection and identification capability
of chemical hazardous events, the sophisticated chemical sensor nose cone was
developed specifically to fit into AV`s RQ-11B Raven as part of a DoD program
funded by the Joint Program Manager Nuclear, Biological and Chemical
Contamination Avoidance, the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, and the U.S. Army
Product Manager, Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems.

Mal Maginnis, President, Global Military and Emergency Response for Smiths
Detection, said: "We have all leveraged our core strengths to provide the DoD
with a unique, valuable solution for remote chemical detection and are delighted
with the results of this outstanding effort which can enable troops to avoid
life-threatening situations."

In a successful demonstration at the U.S. Army`s Dugway Proving Grounds, a
chemical sensor-equipped Raven was flown into a chemical cloud and successfully
detected and identified the chemical, tracking the chemical vapor plume
autonomously. Thousands of Raven air vehicles have been deployed and are in use
by U.S. and several allied military forces.

John Grabowsky, Executive Vice President and General Manager, AV Unmanned
Aircraft Systems, said: "A `plug and play` chemical sensor payload for Raven
represents a new capability that could help war fighters operate more safely and
effectively, and could assist in a variety of disaster response scenarios. As
the most widely deployed unmanned aircraft system, adding chemical sensing to
the Raven system`s existing streaming color and infrared video payloads would
expand the utility and value of this important solution to our customers."

The chemical sensor Smiths Detection developed for the Raven is based on its
Lightweight Chemical Detector (LCD), the commercial variant of the DoD`s Joint
Chemical Agent Detector (JCAD) program. The LCD has been radically modified into
a new cylindrical form factor unit known as the Chemical Sensor Module (CSM),
yet it retains all of the critical chemical detection and identification
capabilities of the LCD. Because of the size and weight, the CSM can be
integrated into AV`s Raven Small Unmanned Aircraft System (SUAS) to make it
capable of automatic detection, identification and quantification of dangerous
chemical warfare agents.

Advanced control algorithms developed by DoD labs allow the Raven to operate in
a semi-autonomous mode analyzing the data collected by the CSM and determining
chemical cloud size, direction and density in real-time.

The chemical detecting UAV will be demonstrated at the 2009 AUSA Annual Meeting
and Exposition in Washington, D.C. from October 5-7 at Smiths Detections` booth,
#2361.

Smiths Detection (www.smithsdetection.com) offers advanced security solutions in
civil and military markets worldwide, developing and manufacturing
government-regulated technology products that identify explosives, chemical and
biological agents, weapons and contraband. It is part of Smiths Group
(www.smiths.com), a global leader in applying advanced technologies to markets
in threat as well as contraband detection, energy, medical devices,
communications and engineered components. Smiths Group employs around 22,000
people in more than 50 countries.

Coltrin & Associates, for Smiths Detection
David Olsen, 212-221-1616
david_olsen@coltrin.com
or
Smiths Detection Global Military and Emergency Response
Dana Knox-Gower, 203-207-9700 ext. 26
dana.gower@smithsdetection.com

Copyright Business Wire 2009