Raytheon wins $4.3 million contract for On-Dock Rail Nuclear Detectors
Under a $4.3 million contract from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Raytheon Company is developing next-generation panels that can scan rail cars to detect nuclear weapons and other materials.
The new panels are an additional configuration in Raytheon's Advanced Spectroscopic portfolio, a series of panels that can be used in various ways to screen cars, trucks, cargo containers, and now rail cars at seaports, border crossings, and airports. Raytheon's Integrated Defense Systems is developing the panels for the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office within DHS. The panels will be tested this summer in Tacoma, Wash.
Ports of entry, courier facilities, airports and similar locations are now using first-generation radiation monitors to scan cargo containers that are placed on trucks. But those devices are not as effective in scanning rail cars, and they cannot distinguish between nuclear materials that pose a threat and the naturally occurring radioactive materials in fertilizer and bananas. Consequently, there can be frequent false alarms.
With the new panels, after a cargo container at a seaport has been loaded onto an 18-wheel flatbed truck or onto a rail car, the truck or car will pass between two panels that will scan it for illicit materials. It will be similar to driving a motor vehicle between two toll booths on the highway. One advantage of the new panels is that they will be taller than the existing version, so they will be able to scan the top of a rail car.
The new panels represent what is called an Advanced Spectroscopic On-Dock Rail configuration. The portfolio also includes panels that fit into a sport utility vehicle to detect nuclear materials passing on one side or the other of the SUV.
"National safety depends on our ability to design and field early-detection systems that can identify such threats as improvised nuclear devices, nuclear weapons, and devices that disperse radiological materials. So this is a high-priority program within DHS and a key component of DNDO's efforts," said Mary Petryszyn, vice president of civil security and response programs at Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems.
Source: Raytheon
More from Digital Battlespace
-
![Australia looks towards space with force restructure, investment and training]()
Australia looks towards space with force restructure, investment and training
Australia is looking to improve its presence in space with a focus on communications and creating a dedicated segment of its defence forces committed to the domain.
-
![EID to unveil new vehicle communication system at DSEI]()
EID to unveil new vehicle communication system at DSEI
The Portuguese company’s naval communications system is in service across more than a dozen countries. It has turned to its home nation for support in developing a new vehicle based C2 system.
-
![Chess Dynamics successfully demonstrates Vision4ce AI-driven tracker]()
Chess Dynamics successfully demonstrates Vision4ce AI-driven tracker
The Vision4ce Deep Embedded Feature Tracking (DEFT) technology software is designed to process video and images by blending traditional computer vision with artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms to present actionable information from complex environments.
-
![Wave Relay devices cleared for security use on commercial systems in industry trend]()
Wave Relay devices cleared for security use on commercial systems in industry trend
Persistent Systems has been cleared by National Security Agency (NSA) to transmit sensitive data on commercial networks. The devices are added to the NSA’s Commercial Solutions for Classified (CSfC) component list which also includes other companies’ products providing the same security.
-
![UK teases cyber spending boost in Strategic Defence Review ahead of “imminent” release]()
UK teases cyber spending boost in Strategic Defence Review ahead of “imminent” release
The release of the UK’s Strategic Defence Review (SDR) has been long promised as mid-year. It is possible it could be as early as 2 June although the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) continues to play its cards close to its chest.
-
![Intelsat emphasises SATCOM resilience for SOF in contested domains (video)]()
Intelsat emphasises SATCOM resilience for SOF in contested domains (video)
Intelsat outlines how its multi-orbit SATCOM architecture is enhancing connectivity and resilience for special operations forces operating in degraded and contested environments.
