Fighting Terror: Army Installs First Mobile Vehicle Scanner (Rapiscan Systems)

[brilTek]

Atlast a much needed explosive detector, whole vehicle scanner (Rapiscan) is installed by Pakistan's army on a road leading to the Swat Valley, in Dargai on July 12, 2009











Such kind of scanners need to be procured in good numbers and installed on all important highways across the country. It will be a vital tool to curtail the rogue explosive movement.

---------- Post added at 12:12 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:07 PM ----------



The Rapiscan GaRDS™ Mobile (Gamma Ray Detection System) is a highly advanced, self-contained, mobile inspection system for screening trucks, cargo containers and passenger vehicles for contraband and explosives.

GaRDS systems have an intrinsically lower radiation field when compared to equivalent X-ray systems. This provides a smaller operational area and exclusion safety zone. The GaRDS Gamma-ray technology requires less maintenance and lower cost of ownership than equivalent X-ray systems


The Rapiscan GaRDS Mobile features:

• Inspection throughput of 1 - 3 trucks with containers per minute at variable scanning speeds.
• Performs both mobile and stationary scanning on driver’s or passenger’s side and at 0° or 10° offset.
• Scan single or multiple cargo arranged in a row, including a camera snapshot of scanned vehicle.
• Self-contained with on-board generator and capable of operating on shore power.
• Complete imaging of cars and trucks without corner cutoff of containers.
• Optimized source to detector distance enhances penetration performance.
• Designed for all weather operation.
• Source and Detectors are on a single boom for simple, reliable and dual sided deployment.
• Designed to travel on local and international roadways.
• Modular design enables system to be mounted on a domestically available truck chassis.
• Operator’s station is within an extended truck cab with heating and air conditioning environmental control.
• Set-up time is approximately 10 minutes.

 

[brilTek]

Watch RapiScan Mobile in action....

Watch @1:14 - 1:39

couldn't find better video than this.

IMO, the best procurement to fight on terror to save innocent lives from suicide blasts & explosive filled vehicles.

 

[ajpirzada]

such equipment should be installed at every entry/exit of all major cities

 

[fatman17]

such equipment should be installed at every entry/exit of all major cities

if possible but definately at all exit/entry points at afghan border and FATA !!!

 

[Sky_123]

This type of devices should be hidden, because terrorists can try to target that.

 

[fatman17]

This type of devices should be hidden, because terrorists can try to target that.

obviously not possible - there should be a defensive perimeter around the device for protection!

 

[brilTek]

obviously not possible - there should be a defensive perimeter around the device for protection!

Obviously can’t hide but I fail to see any protective measures taken to protect scanner as seen in pics above. IMO, it’s next to impossible as truck, or any other vehicle has to go through the scanner.

The risk of loosing machine is definately there but more importantly lives operating this would be in looming danger. Don’t know whether control room is bomb proof or not? It should be

 

[mhacsan]

for me its a waiste of resources, people normaly carrying explosives simply wont go through it, or hit the detector first, or might bypass the system as thier r no offical city boundaries or in and out passages.

plus these scanner must be hidden, the enigineers must build an infrastrustire to hide under concreate or so that only laser omtting system stays naked. this way it would be more sensible and effective.

 

[TOPGUN]

Very good news steps like this need to be taken all over th country not just northern areas/swat God bless Pakistan.

 

[Stumper]

A few question on top of my mind...

Whats the cost for the whole unit?
what is the operational cost involved?
What are the Con's for this?
Also, what's the average time taken to scan per vehicle?

 

[Stumper]

for me its a waiste of resources, people normaly carrying explosives simply wont go through it, or hit the detector first, or might bypass the system as thier r no offical city boundaries or in and out passages.

plus these scanner must be hidden, the enigineers must build an infrastrustire to hide under concreate or so that only laser omtting system stays naked. this way it would be more sensible and effective.

hacsan, this are meant for perimeter security. Previously you had the human factor when searching vehicle's. This device takes out the guess factor. If it can do its checks fast enough, i see value in it. Terrorist will obviously find way to bypass this, overtime. But its a deterrence, none the less.

 

[brilTek]

A few question on top of my mind...

Whats the cost for the whole unit?
what is the operational cost involved?
What are the Con's for this?
Also, what's the average time taken to scan per vehicle?

I can answer only two now.

Whats the cost for the whole unit?

I couldn't find it anywhere. Let me guess; a similar purpose scanner 'ZBV Backscatter' costs around 1 million$. This must be priced higher and this is some serious money.

American Science and Engineering of Billerica, MA received a $9.5 million firm-fixed price contract for eight Z-Backscatter Vans to meet U.S. Central Command requirements for Afghanistan and Iraq.

DefenceIndustryDaily: The Z-Backscatter Scan-Van

Also, what's the average time taken to scan per vehicle?

As posted in OP, Inspection throughput of 1 - 3 trucks with containers per minute at variable scanning speeds. (Taken from their website)

 

[Fracker]

what a stupidity. And USA is our friend.

These types of scanners were build in 2002. And we have it now after 7 yrs, when USA installed a device on their tanks, which detects the bomb from 20 meters, and if there ie bomb detect, it put spark in that through microwave, and then that bomb explode. So no damage happens to the tank or tank crow. Don't remember what that device called, but saw on newscientist and national geographic.