Combating Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD)

The Combating Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) program, as outlined in Program Element (PE) 0605036A, is a new start in the Army's FY 2026 budget. The primary goal of this line item is to support research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) activities aimed at enhancing the Army's ability to detect, protect against, and respond to chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats. The program is structured to address multiple lines of effort, including the development and integration of advanced detection systems, modernization of platform-based radiological sensors, and provision of chemical and biological protection for deployable medical systems.

A central component of the CWMD program is the Advanced Radiological, Nuclear Detection Family of Systems (ARND FoS). Its objective is to deliver a standoff, wide-area, and networked detection capability that can generate a comprehensive radiological and nuclear site picture. This capability is intended to identify radiological hot spots and facilitate the detection of high-priority areas of interest during operations such as Sensitive Site Assessment (SSA) and Sensitive Site Exploitation (SSE). In FY 2026, ARND FoS will focus on performance and integration testing, cybersecurity assessments, and logistics development to ensure the system meets Army requirements. The program leverages technology developed by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) and involves collaboration with other government agencies.

Vehicle Integrated Platform Enhanced Radiac (VIPER) is another major line item under the CWMD program, with a significant funding increase in FY 2026. VIPER is designed to modernize the Army's capability to monitor crew exposure to radiological and nuclear hazards on both ground and aviation platforms. The system provides real-time gamma dose rate, gamma dose, and gamma/neutron dose measurements in a compact, ruggedized form factor. In FY 2026, the program will initiate a contract to build test assets, begin developmental testing, and start integration onto Army platforms. VIPER is intended to replace obsolete legacy systems, enhancing crew safety and operational effectiveness.

Chemically Protected Deployable Medical System (CP DEPMEDS) is also supported by the CWMD program, though its RDT&E funding concludes after FY 2024 as it transitions to procurement. The objective of CP DEPMEDS is to provide chemical and biological protection for U.S. Army Role 3 field hospitals, ensuring medical personnel and patients are safeguarded in CBRN environments. Recent efforts have focused on revising technical manuals and logistics documentation to reflect modernization and reconfiguration of the system.

The increase in funding over previous years is primarily driven by the initiation of the VIPER program and the need for expanded testing and integration activities. The program also reflects a reduction in Advisory and Assistance Services to align with government efficiency initiatives as directed by Executive Order 14222.

Key objectives across all CWMD initiatives include the procurement of test articles, execution of engineering and manufacturing design testing, support for logistics development, and platform integration. The acquisition strategy emphasizes leveraging existing government-developed technologies, collaboration with agencies such as DTRA and DEVCOM CBC, and phased developmental and operational testing to ensure systems meet operational requirements before full-rate production and fielding.