Three US companies have received contracts, worth an estimated $33 million, to demonstrate technologies for the Stand-Off Radiation Detection System (SORDS) from the US Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO), the US Department of Homeland Security announced this week.General Electric Global Research of Niskayuna, N.Y.; Science Applications International Corporation of San Diego, Calif.; and the Naval Research Laboratory of Washington, D.C., will test nuclear detectors that autonomously identify the type and location of radiation sources at distances much further than current detectors. "The SORDS approach, if validated, could be used in a wide range of monitoring applications including border crossings, sea lanes and air surveillance," DNDO Director Vayl Oxford said in a statement. "This program could create a significant increase in capability for monitoring the illicit movement of radiation sources."
The US, in particular, fears that terrorists will try to detonate a radiological dispersal device (dirty bomb) in the US. Increased US security could displace this source to another target, such as a major international airport, seaport, shopping mall, central business district etc.
The implications of radiation contamination for affected businesses would be dire and long-term, and proactive and reactive measures are addressed in the Security Management Stage 2 session entitled CBRN.
