CBRN / HazMat Training Blog

Steven Pike

Steven Pike
Steven Pike is the Founder and Managing Director of Argon Electronics (UK) Ltd. A graduate of the University of Hertfordshire, Steven has been awarded a number of international patents relating to the field of hazardous material training systems and technology.

Recent Posts

The Unsung Heroes of the Battlefield: Early Warning Chemical Detection

Written by Steven Pike on 03 October 2024

When we think about modern warfare, we often imagine complex weapons systems, high-tech drones, and cutting-edge cyber warfare. But one of the most crucial, albeit less glamorous, components of military defence is something that can save countless lives before the first shot is fired: early warning chemical detection.

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Airports: A Vulnerable Flank Against CBRN Attack

Written by Steven Pike on 23 August 2024

Airports have long been focal points for ensuring safety and security. Historically, the emphasis has been on preventing explosive or weapon-based attacks. However, the presence of Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) threats present a far more intricate challenge. Unlike traditional explosives, these threats are subtle, often invisible, and exponentially more difficult to detect.

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CBRN Training: Schleswig-Holstein Fire Service Simulation Success

Written by Steven Pike on 08 August 2024

The Schleswig-Holstein State Fire Service School in Germany has transformed its approach to training incorporating Argon Electronics advanced simulation technology to significantly enhance the quality and safety of their CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear) response courses.

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CBRNe Training: Enhancing Military and First Responder Capability

Written by Steven Pike on 18 July 2024

UK Military Personnel practice CBRN decontamination techniques using Argon Electronic’s CamSIM chemical warfare hazard training simulator

In the evolving realm of CBRNe threats, simulation technology is indispensable for training military and first responder units, offering realism, cost savings, and enhanced readiness against modern security challenges.

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Gruinard Island and the Dark Harvest Commandos

Written by Steven Pike on 26 June 2024

Decades of secrecy shrouded Gruinard Island, laying off the western coast of Scotland. The island was deemed too dangerous to allow public access after it was contaminated during World War Two germ warfare experiments. In 1981, an unknown group calling themselves the Dark Harvest Commandos issued an ultimatum: clean up or face an Anthrax nightmare. This early attempt at bioterrorism serves as a reminder that such dangers still exist today.

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CBRNe Capability: Better Use of Simulators in Training

Written by Steven Pike on 10 June 2024

While CBRNe capability has improved enormously, investment in training remains a lower priority than it should be. Improved use of CBRNe simulators in training is not only cost-effective but also provides agile, safe, and demanding training scenario solutions.

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Chernobyl: Drawing a Line Under Disaster

Written by Steven Pike on 24 May 2024

Chernobyl's new sarcophagus took two decades to make. Bigger than Wembley Stadium and taller than the Statue of Liberty, it is intended to seal in the entire disaster site for 100 years. It’s an extraordinary engineering effort.

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Mustard Gas: From Weapon of Terror to Cancer Cure

Written by Steven Pike on 09 May 2024

Mustard gas was first used as a weapon of terror bringing chemical weapons to the battlefield. However, the properties that made it an agonising killer also made it into the basis for a frontline cancer treatment.

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British Army Fuchs 1 Returns to Frontline Service

Written by Steven Pike on 02 May 2024

The UK fleet of TPz Fuchs 1 vehicles procured hastily for CBRN reconnaissance duty in the first Gulf War has survived a number of defence cuts and has returned to service following an extensive capability regeneration and enhancement programme.

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Operation Tomodachi: CBRN Interoperability and Joint Training

Written by Steven Pike on 04 April 2024

The US response to the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster provided valuable lessons for the US military and its allies in creating a radiological detection and analysis capability that can offer real-time shared situational awareness.  

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