WASHINGTON, May 30 (UPI) -- Defense contractor ICx Technologies (NASDAQ:ICXT) announced it has acquired Maryland-based biological threat detection technologies developer S3I.

ICx officials say the approximately $5.3 million acquisition adds S3I's Instantaneous Bioaerosol Analyzer and Collector sensor technology to ICx's biological threat detection product line. S3I will become part of ICx BioSystems.

Officials say S3I's IBAC sensor will be coupled with ICx's trademarked BioXC in an effort to expand the biological threat detection offerings that provide detailed information in the field and in protected facilities to military and emergency first responders.

"Both ICx and S3I share the vision of protecting people and critical infrastructure from potentially devastating biological attacks," David Silcott, S3I president, said in a statement.

"The technological, cultural and sales synergies with ICx made this an easy decision for us, and we have already been working together on several projects."