Smiths Detection wins mobile weather forecasting deal

Smiths Detection Inc. won an $8 million contract from the U.S. Navy to design and test a prototype mobile weather forecasting system.

The Meteorological Mobile Facility is a van containing equipment that provides meteorological and oceanographic support to the Marine Ground Task Force. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command is in charge of the program.

Under the contract, the company will build a system to replace the current one, using new technologies to improve the delivery in all locations and climates. The contract is potentially worth $11.3 million if options are exercised. Smiths Detection expects to complete the work by April 2008, or September 2009 with the options.

Earlier this month, Smiths Detection won a $23 million contract from the federal government to supply mobile cargo screening systems, called HCV Mobile II trucks, which will be used at several strategic ports throughout the country. The systems produce high-resolution images of the contents of containers and detect radioactive material in trucks and container loads.

Smiths Detection also has supplied movable security checkpoints, called Mobile Screening Checkpoint 40, to the Transportation Security Administration to screen commuters at select Maryland MARC train stations during a four-week pilot program that started April 4.

Based in Edgewood, Md., Smiths Detection Inc. provides X-ray and trace detection systems to identify explosives, chemical and biological agents, weapons and contraband. It is one of four operating divisions of Smiths Group plc of London. The parent company employs approximately 28,500 people and had revenue of $5.3 billion for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2005, according to Hoover's Online.