New port detection technology | 09.15.2006 | 07:30:13 | Views: 5631 | ID: September 15 '06: The Department of Homeland Security announced new federal grants of more than $1.35 billion to build security measures at the nation's ports to detect nuclear weapons being smuggled into the US. The new system, called the Cargo Advanced Automated Radiography System will also be able to detect drugs and high explosives. CAARS will be able to "deliver an advanced imaging system that will automatically detect high density shielding that could be used to hide special nuclear material such as highly enriched uranium or weapons grade plutonium," the DHS website read. Vayl S. Oxford, the Director of the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office said CAARS will "provide the nation with the capability to detect unshielded, lightly shielded and shielded materials across the threat spectrum without slowing down commerce." CAARS also will work with the Advanced Spectroscopic Portals (ASP) which works to deploy new radiation-detection technology that will allow port security officials the ability "to detect and intercept a possible nuclear bomb or radiological bomb more quickly, more efficiently, and more accurately than the current generation of detection equipment," Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said in July. The new CAARS system will "deliver an advanced imaging system that will automatically detect high density shielding that could be used to hide special nuclear material such as highly enriched uranium or weapons grade plutonium. CAARS will improve throughput rates providing more effective scanning of a higher portion of cargo at the nation's ports of entry," the DHS website read.
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