Femtometrics Contract

IRVINE —  Femtometrics Inc. and a Texas partner have won a 15-month, $4.7-million federal contract for development of prototype chemical warfare agent detectors for the U.S. military.

A second phase option with Tracor Aerospace Inc. would add $11.4 million to the deal. If the team’s detectors are selected for production, the subsequent five-year contract could be worth up to $300 million, Tracor said.

The initial pact calls for the two companies to jointly develop a sensor that can detect airborne chemicals that can damage human blood cells, nerves or tissue. Tracor is a major defense contractor while Femtometrics is a research and manufacturing firm specializing in chemical detection and identification systems.