To strengthen the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) capabilities in responding to chemical, biological or radiological (CBR) threats, DSTA played a key role in introducing a platform that can be configured to perform both decontamination and treatment of casualties. Five of these Medical Decontamination and Treatment Vehicles (MDTV) were delivered in November 2012.

The COTS sub-systems for the MDTV did not fully meet the SAF’s stringent technical and safety requirements. To overcome these inadequacies, DSTA worked closely with the manufacturer and users to re-design and customise the sub-systems. For instance, DSTA introduced stronger fittings to the overhead shelter system, which is a key feature of the MDTV. This reinforced the structure of the system so that it can withstand local wind conditions, enhancing safety of the operators during deployment. In addition, DSTA had to ensure that the drainage system was specifically designed according to the throughput requirements, so as to prevent backflow of contaminated water into the clean zones. DSTA reviewed the design of the floor pan, drainage design and pump capacity with the manufacturer to ensure proper containment.

To improve the operational capabilities of the MDTV, DSTA spearheaded the integration of a rear built-up cabin onto the vehicle chassis so that transported medical stores can be deployed quickly at an incident site. DSTA also incorporated an integrated shower system that allows the speedy decontamination of casualties with a single switch. Compared with previous manually deployed shelters, the MDTV has halved the deployment time. It can also speed up the decontamination process by 100 per cent at a rate of 60 casualties per hour.