The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) awarded Smiths Detection a $63 million order to supply automatic explosive scanners for carry-on baggage under the agency’s Advanced Technology 2 (AT-2) contract, according to a company statement.
The automatic threat identification X-ray (aTiX) systems, which use multi-view, high resolution imaging to detect explosives and other threats, will be installed this year at several airports across the United States. Already installed in over 70 airports, aTiX is capable of detecting a wide range of threats and illegal substances and can be readily upgraded as new threats emerge.
TSA last year terminated a winner-take-all contract award to Rapiscan Systems for default after the company reported that its submission for the AT-2 contract included a Chinese-made component that hadn’t been approved by agency (Defense Daily, Dec. 9). The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) last year considered Rapiscan for potential disbarment related to changes the company had made during testing of automated target recognition software on its body imaging systems, but ultimately decided against suspending the company (Defense Daily, Jan. 10). Rapiscan is a division of OSI Systems [OSIS].
Smiths Detection is part of Britain’s Smiths Group.