NEWS RELEASEHEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND 7115 South Boundary Boulevard MacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101 Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894 |
| June 1, 2004 Release Number: 04-06-03 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE SOLDIERS USE NEW EXPLOSIVE DETECTION EQUIPMENT BAGHDAD, Iraq - Coalition forces are using a new hand-carried device called Vapor Tracer 2 that detects and identifies vapors and particles produced by numerous forms of explosives and narcotics. Vapor Tracer 2 uses an atmospheric sampling technique that is extremely sensitive and fast. Its average detection time is four to 10 seconds per sample. The Vapor Tracer 2 is being used at all of the checkpoints around the green zone to help make them more secure. Soldiers from Troop F, 9th Cavalry Regiment, used the Vapor Tracer 2 earlier in May on a mission to find a suspected cache of explosives. Though the cache was not the explosive material it was reported to be, the Vapor Tracer 2 did positively identify a substance that could be used in explosives. The detection system is currently being used in civilian airports throughout the United States to check people, baggage, vehicles and cargo for explosive substances. -30- |
