TSA Certifies L-3’s Fixed-Gantry MV3D EDS System
L-3 Communications [LLL] says the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has certified the company’s MV3D stationary gantry explosive detection system (EDS), which can scan baggage at up to 1,800 bags per hour. Bill Frain, senior vice president of L-3’s Security and Detection Systems (SDS) business, tells HSR via email response to questions that his company is continuing to work with TSA on their requirements but that the “ultra high-speed mainly an international market. Our current focus is to satisfy ECAC Standard 3 requirements in non-U.S. countries around the world for ultra high-seed scanning applications.” L-3 has over 1,000 EDS systems deployed at airports globally. Most of these are medium-speed solutions although the company also provides reduced-sized systems as well. The MV3D was previously approved to meet ECAC Standard 3 requirements by the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC). Frain says that given the MV3D meets the Standard 3 requirements, he expects the system “will be popular for ultra high-speed scanning applications globally.” Tom Ripp, president of L-3 SDS says the TSA certification “demonstrates the MV3D’s ability to meet the highest levels of detection performance. Its revolutionary design generates the throughput and image quality of previous EU Standard 2 systems, while providing the detection performance required of EU Standard 3 and TSA-certified systems.” TSA has now certified stationary gantry EDS systems made by Sure Scan and L-3. For both companies, international sales are more likely as TSA is more focused on recapitalizing medium-speed systems in the near-term. The fixed-gantry systems are expected to lower operating costs over the life-cycle because of the stationary gantry.
DHS S&T Licenses Malware Detection Software to Private Firm
The Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology (S&T) branch says it has licensed a cyber security technology developed by a government laboratory to a commercial firm. Hyperion, a malware forensics detection and software assurance technology developed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory, has been licensed to R&K Cyber Solutions LLC. The technology licensing occurred through S&T’s Transition to Practice Program (TTP), which looks to transition federally funded cyber security technologies from the laboratory to consumers. Hyperion calculates the behavior of software to detect malware. R&K, which is based in Northern Virginia, does computer forensic investigations. Hyperion is the second cyber security technology to transition to the private sector under the TTP program. Last year S&T transitioned the Quantum Secured Communication, an encryption system used to protect the nation’s critical cyber infrastructure. S&T will host a TTP technology demonstration in Silicon Valley on May 19. The program currently has 24 technologies ready for transition to the marketplace.
Norwegian Firm Introduces Biometric Cards for HID Readers
Norway’s Zwipe has introduced access biometric cards that can be integrated into an existing HID Global iCLASS Prox-based card reader system without needing to add biometric readers. “As the largest smart and proximity card provider in the world, HID Global has thousands of users who would like to upgrade to biometric authorization but may not have the budget or the resources to invest in biometric readers,” says Robert Fee, director of sales for Zwipe in the Americas. “The Zwipe biometric card provides an easy, affordable option for security professionals to extend the use of their present card systems by adding biometrics for multifactor, card-based authentication.” Zwipe’s biometric card includes an on-card fingerprint sensor that an individual uses while swiping their card over a card reader.