Rapidly deployable forensics labs for the Canadian Armed Forces

The Canadian Army’s Intelligence Regiment is home to Technical Exploitation specialists who are responsible for expeditionary forensics and exploitation missions around the world in support of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) as well as domestic support to other Canadian Government offices and agencies. Their work requires precision, accuracy and rapid response in the most challenging environments.

Deploying forensic and exploitation specialists

The Canadian Army’s Intelligence Regiment Technical Exploitation capability is required to conduct forensic and technical exploitation operations to identify, track and link individuals to criminal activity and events. These operations are critical to protecting Canadian Forces, supporting allies and safeguarding the local population in conflict zones.

To be able to conduct this activity in a fast-paced and unpredictable environment while maintaining a comprehensive and effective capability, the Canadian Armed Forces requires a fully deployable, modular and containerised system to house its forensic and exploitation capability. The system needs to be rapidly transportable by air, land and sea and operational at short notice in challenging environments all around the world.


Designed for analysis

In 2010, Marshall won a contract to design and manufacture a deployable technical analysis laboratory (DTAL) system from its headquarters in Cambridge, UK.

Marshall designed a modular system based on a standard 20ft ISO shipping container with bespoke interior fit-outs that were tailored to the needs of the Canadian Armed Forces. The modules were engineered to “clutch” together to form one larger interior workspace which would include a range of laboratories, workshops, office space and storage. A bespoke “corridor” joins each cluster of modules to provide a safe and secure passage between units to aid workflow efficiency.

The full system can be powered by either mains power or using its own generator system, which itself is housed in a container with a power distribution system.

The modular design of the system gives the Canadian Armed Forces a full spectrum of specialist equipment and facilities to be able to conduct all required operations including chemical, biological and radiation detection, weapon intelligence, DNA and biometric collection along with technical exploitation intelligence support.

World-class deployable forensics

The DTAL system has given the Canadian Armed Forces a rapidly deployable full-spectrum expeditionary forensics and technical exploitation capability that has enabled specialists to conduct scientific analysis in the battlefield for over 15 years.

As a result, two highly trained specialist teams based in Canada are fully equipped and ready for rapid deployment anywhere in the world to conduct battlefield forensics, support wider Canadian Armed Forces missions and protect people.

Whether it is fingerprinting analysis, DNA profiling or analysis of unknown substances, the DTAL system equips the Canadian Armed Forces with the equipment and facilities to get the job done in high-pressure, challenging environments.

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