COLUMBIA, Md., Sept. 29 (UPI) -- Raptor Detection Technologies LLC of Maryland is supplying the U.S. Army with its SAFE-T line of explosive detection products.
The contract vehicle is with SOSSEC Inc., a consortium of homeland security and technology firms of which Raptor is a member, and comes one month after Raptor was awarded a significant contract by the U.S. Navy's Explosive Ordnance Division.
"This new award confirms the Army's support of Raptor's SAFE-T products and the company's ability to successfully bring SAFE-T products to full operational readiness with a goal of becoming a program of record," said Jonathan Gluckman, general manager and executive vice president of Raptor.
"The detection capability we are developing jointly with the Army will enhance greatly the ability of our warfighters to meet the global terrorist threat."
Raptor's Substance Activated Fast Evaluation Technology products are based on a patented nanotechnology called molecularly imprinted polymers. MIPs are capable of selectively sensing microscopic amounts of explosives or other molecules that are dangerous for humans and the environment, such as toxins, chemical agents, biological agents, pesticides, poisons and explosives.
Initially developed at The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Raptor's SAFE-T MIPs produce a dramatic color change reaction that is visible with the naked eye when they detect target molecules, such as dangerous materials used in terrorist attacks. If a trace amount of explosive material is present on a person's skin, or finger, for example, it may capture a visible, colorful fingerprint when it touches MIP material. This color change is visibly detectable within seconds of exposure.
