Steampunk, Inc. has received a potential $4.5 million contract from the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate to provide administrative, technical and management support to the directorate’s Office of the Chief Information Officer related to information assurance. The one-year contract has a three-month base worth $2.3 million. DHS expects to award a new information assurance engineering support task order by June.
DroneShield
says it has received an initial order for its drone security technology from a “high profile” U.S. law enforcement agency. The name of the agency wasn’t disclosed. The Australian-based counter-drone company says the order consists of two passive unmanned aircraft detection and tracking sensors deployed in a mobile configuration. DroneShield is expecting follow-on orders from the law enforcement agency and other U.S. law enforcement agencies. “We are pleased to continue expanding the breadth of our U.S. customer base, now reaching into law enforcement,” says Oleg Vornik, DroneShield’s CEO.
Viken Detection has formed a new business unit, Chemical Detection and Environmental Hazards, which will be led by Dr. Hanh Lai, who previously worked in technical leadership roles in explosives trace detection (ETD) at OSI Systems [OSIS] Rapiscan Systems division and Safran’s Morpho Detection business. Rapiscan acquired the trace detection business within Morpho after Smiths Detection acquired the larger Morpho Detection business from Safran and was required to divest the ETD business to comply with regulatory approvals for the deal. With Viken starting a new business unit, it’s likely only a matter of time before new products are announced. “Hanh is not only an accomplished technologist, but also a natural leader with superb business instincts,” says Jim Ryan, Viken’s CEO. “I am thrilled to work with her as we introduce exciting new product platforms this quarter and continue to provide our customers with unique solutions.”
Customs and Border Protection says its use of facial comparison technology for international arrivals at Washington Dulles International Airport resulted in the capture of two women who attempted to use genuine U.S. passports that were lawfully issued to other people. The two impostors had arrived at the CBP primary inspection booth following their flight from Brussels earlier this month. The women were removed from the U.S.