Rigaku's Dr. Jeffrey Brodeur Shares Four Critical Chemical Warfare Lessons in Red H#sh Magazine

This article first appeared in Red H#sh Magazine.

As chemical threats evolve, military preparedness must extend beyondong protection to maintaining operational effectiveness in contaminated environments

Rigaku Analytical Devices is pleased to share that Dr. Jeffrey Brodeur, Vertical Market Manager, Safety & Security, is a featured contributor in the inaugural issue of Red H#sh Magazine, published by DarkForge Defence.

In his article, "Four Critical Chemical Warfare Lessons for Modern Military Forces," Dr. Brodeur examines how lessons from historical conflicts remain relevant as military forces confront evolving chemical threats, including the emergence of drones as chemical agent delivery systems.

Drawing on his extensive military CBRN experience, Dr. Brodeur identifies four essential considerations for modern military preparedness:

• Train all military units in chemical warfare. Regular training with protective equipment helps personnel respond effectively under pressure and reduces operational delays.
• Maintain operations in contaminated environments. Military units must prepare to sustain essential functions while managing the physical and operational challenges of protective equipment.
• Reconsider risk in chemically contaminated areas. Commanders must evaluate chemical hazards alongside other mission risks rather than automatically treating contaminated areas as barriers to movement.
• Prioritize rapid chemical identification. Reliable field identification capabilities provide critical information to support protective measures, risk assessments, and operational decisions.

Emerging Threats Reinforce the Need for Preparedness

Beyond these four lessons, Dr. Brodeur examines how drone-delivered chemical agents are introducing new challenges to modern military operations. The ability to deploy chemical substances with limited warning reinforces the importance of comprehensive CBRN training, adaptable operational strategies, and timely chemical identification.

His article emphasizes that chemical threats should not automatically dictate the pace of military operations. Instead, effective preparation and access to reliable presumptive identification technologies can help commanders make informed decisions while protecting personnel and maintaining mission objectives.

Supporting Chemical Threat Identification in the Field

At Rigaku Analytical Devices, we recognize the importance of equipping military and CBRN personnel with field-ready technologies that support chemical threat assessment.

Our handheld 1064 nm Raman analyzers provide presumptive chemical identification capabilities designed to help personnel identify unknown substances and support informed response decisions in challenging environments.

Dr. Brodeur's article reinforces the importance of integrating chemical identification capabilities into broader operational preparedness and training programs.

Read Dr. Brodeur's full article in the inaugural issue of Red H#sh Magazine (Q4 2026), pages 14–16.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Rigaku Analytical Devices.