Army to Deliver Stand-Off Explosives Inspection Systems
Mar 16, 2010
By Kris Osborn
The U.S. Army is stepping up delivery of high-tech checkpoint detection systems in support of the Afghanistan surge as a way to better search at Forward Operating Bases (FOB) entry control points and other key locations for bomb-making materials, weapons, contraband and other kinds of threat-related activities, service officials said.
The Army is sending hundreds more Non-Intrusive Inspection Systems (NIIS) to Afghanistan -- mobile scanning technologies of varying sizes and weights which can be stationary or vehicle mounted, said Maj. Gregg Spencer, assistant product manager, NIIS.
"Generally they are used at checkpoints. We tend to use them at entry control points to look for contraband coming on the FOB and look for bombs inside a vehicle. In some cases they can be used at traffic control points to do some interdiction," said Spencer. "The NIIS is a family of systems that uses different technologies. Some use gamma rays, some use X-rays and some can use millimeter waves to non-intrusively inspect the interior of vehicles and inspect what is on a person without touching him or her."
While much of the results of what the systems uncover is not available to the public, the arrival of the systems is a welcome sight for troops in theater, Spencer said.
"We do know that when the first systems arrived at Bagram airfield everybody was cheering. The war fighter feels more confident when we have these systems," he said.
The NIIS increase unit efficiency by reducing the need for manpower at checkpoints, said Lt. Col. James Choung, product manager, NIIS.
"NIIS is a force multiplier; it strengthens the protection capability of personnel and equipment while minimizing manpower requirements for vehicles, cargo and personnel inspections at FOB entry control points and border crossing points," Choung said.
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