October 11, 2011: After 12 years of existence, Britain is disbanding its Joint CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear) Regiment at the end of the year. Most of the troops in the unit are from the army, the rest from the Royal Air Force. With fewer than a thousand troops, the regiment is equipped with detectors for chemical, biological and radioactive material. Sensors for detecting these hazardous materials have gotten a lot cheaper, smaller, easier-to-use and reliable in the past decade, making it possible equip any troops with them. Britain is also in the midst of making big cuts to its defense budget. The two trends united to wipe out the Joint CBRN Regiment. Never underestimate the lethality of paper bullets.