Raytheon awarded phase II for SORDS tech

TEWKSBURY, Mass., July 10 (UPI) -- Raytheon Co. has been contracted by the U.S. Homeland Security Department for development work on the Stand-Off Radiation Detection System.

Under the phase II contract Raytheon will continue its work on the SORDS nuclear detection technology and engineer a prototype design. The $4.7 million, eight-month phase II contract will be managed by the DHS Domestic Nuclear Detection Office.

"The purpose of the SORDS is to develop advanced nuclear detectors that can determine the type and location of radiation sources at much greater distances than current technologies," said Mark Russell, Raytheon vice president of engineering, technology and mission assurance.

Raytheon's phase II contract will be supported by a team including the Los Alamos National Laboratory, Bubble Technology Industries, Radiation Monitoring Devices and Draper Laboratory along with scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Michigan.