The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has approved L-3 Communications‘ [LLL] ProVision Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) system for use at aviation checkpoints following a two-year test program that included operational evaluations of more than 40 of the systems at 19 airports.
The addition of L-3’s active millimeter wave system to the Qualified Products List follows a similar approval by TSA in late September of Rapiscan Systems’ backscatter-based Secure 1000 AIT system. Concurrent with putting the Secure 100 on the QPL, TSA also awarded Rapiscan a $25.4 million contract for 150 of the systems. Rapiscan is a division of OSI Systems [OSIS].
L-3 has not been awarded a contract for its ProVision system, at least not yet, since being added to the QPL. However, TSA typically buys screening systems from at least two vendors, and in the case of the AIT systems it has a requirement for 893 of the whole body imagers. So with the 40 systems the agency has already purchased from L-3 for pilot testing and the 150 on order from Rapiscan, TSA still has a ways to go to fulfill its AIT requirement.
Initially TSA tested whole body imagers in secondary screening applications and then later in primary screening modes. Of the 40 supplied by L-3, 34 are being used in secondary and six in primary applications. The agency plans to use the new AIT systems it purchases mainly for primary screening.
The imaging technology has been controversial because of the detail it displays from an individual’s body. The AIT vendors have software algorithms that blur facial and other areas while still allowing the screener to see potential threats that may be hidden on a person’s body such as weapons, explosives, drugs, bomb making components and other contraband.
Rapiscan has sold over 400 of its Secure 1000s worldwide and L-3 over 200. Other companies that are hoping to have their products added to the AIT QPL include Smiths Detection and American Science and Engineering [ASEI].