DHS funds nuclear threat detector tests

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CHANTILLY, Va., Sept. 26 (UPI) -- A system that uses naturally occurring cosmic ray muons to detect nuclear threats hidden in cargo and conveyances is receiving U.S. funding for development.

The system, called the Multi-Mode Passive Detection System is from Decision Sciences International Corp.

Under a contract from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Domestic Nuclear Detection Office for an advanced technology demonstration, DSIC will support government testing of the effectiveness and readiness of its MMPDS for production.

The contract has an estimated value of $2.7 million.

"MMPDS is designed to support DNDO's objective of preventing nuclear terrorism with technology capable of rapidly screening cargo and passenger vehicles for both shielded and unshielded nuclear threats at land and sea ports," said DSIC President and Chief Executive Officer Stanton D. Sloane. "This is a very important opportunity for us to work with DHS through DNDO in support of its significant mission."

MMPDS is a passive scanning technology.