Overview
- BLADE announced it won the contract on Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, to advance the large, containerized variant of the Critical Equipment Decontamination System (CEDS).
- The program is run by the Joint Project Manager for CBRN Special Operations Forces under the Pentagon’s PME CBRND and aims to strengthen readiness and survivability for U.S. Special Operations Forces.
- CEDS is a transportable system that cleans chemical and biological agents from low-density, high-value gear so equipment can be returned to service without requiring troops to wear extra protective gear.
- Development has moved from FY2022 prototyping to live-agent tests at the Czech VVU institute and operational testing of a small inflatable variant in December 2024; the large variant was scheduled for follow-on testing in 2025 with SOCOM deliveries targeted for fiscal 2027 but those dates were not confirmed by the contract announcement.
- BLADE did not disclose the contract’s value, length, number of systems, or whether the award shifts CEDS into production, leaving fielding timelines and procurement scope uncertain even as the program promises to cut logistical burden by recovering contaminated equipment closer to operators.