The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has awarded Smiths Detection an $11.4 million order to provide IONSCAN 500DT explosive trace detectors (ETDs) for screening carry-on luggage at airport security checkpoints. The desktop ETD machine uses ion mobility spectrometry in a dual tube design to provide high sensitivity and accuracy for detecting trace explosives. The purchase follows a previous $6 million order by TSA in Oct. 2008 for the IONSCAN 500DT. TSA recently awarded Safran Group‘s Morpho Detection unit a $35.5 million order for 1,245 Itemiser DX ETD machines to screen carry-on bags at airport checkpoints (TR2, April 28).