Raytheon awarded nuclear detection contract

has been awarded an $18.2 million contract by the US

(DHS) to further develop its Advanced Spectroscopic Portal (ASP) nuclear detection capability.

ASP it to play a role in border security and national defence, preventing the smuggling of nuclear materials through ports of entry. The US market for these portals is estimated to be greater than $1 billion.

Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems (IDS) is leading a team that includes Bubble Technology Industries (BTI) to produce a medium resolution Advanced Spectroscopic Portal system.

Raytheon will provide primary programme management, engineering development, manufacturing, field support and R&D for future systems improvements. BTI is a company with a global reputation in nuclear physics. All work on the portals will be performed at IDS's Integrated Air Defense Center, in Massachusetts.

Advanced spectroscopic portals are panel-like devices that contain detectors used to screen people, cars, lorries and containers for illicit radioactive materials at some of the more than 600 ports of entry into the United States. The new generation of portals is needed to improve discrimination between innocent and threat materials, which will reduce the number of false alarms compared to the first generation of screening portals currently in place.