In a move that will greatly improve national security efforts to stop suicide bombers, Thermal Matrix USA is announcing a new program that can equip domestic law enforcement and military agencies with life saving bomb detection, at a fraction of the cost of a complete system.
Thermal Matrix USA is an industry leader in research and product development of technology that can detect person-borne improvised explosive devices (PBIEDs) at safe standoff distances. With increased acts of terror overseas, its ACT (Access Counter IED Technology) system is currently in great demand. ACT detects hidden plastic, liquid, powder and gel explosives long before a terrorist is able to reach his intended target. A key component of the system is an infrared sensor, such as those manufactured by FLIR, which are already in use in many security applications.
"We know that many of the agencies we work with already have infrared sensors deployed as part of their existing security efforts," said Richard Salem, founder and CEO of Thermal Matrix. "Our system is compatible with those sensors, and we can affordably provide new threat detection to agencies that have already acquired much of the necessary hardware. By offering the ACT system as an add-on component, we will further empower police, security, and military to stop suicide bombers and other terrorists before they can attack."
Incidents of suicide bomb attacks are on the rise. The most recent came over the weekend when a terrorist dressed as a policeman blew himself up in the middle of a meeting between a high-ranking Afghan and NATO officials. Among the dead is northern Afghanistan's senior police official Gen. Mohammad Daud Daud. Five others were killed, with at least 10 more wounded. The Taliban has claimed responsibility.
In addition, the recent killing of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden has already brought suicide bomber retaliation. Last month a pair of suicide bombers attacked military recruits leaving a training center, killing at least 80 and wounding more than 100 others. The Pakistani Taliban claimed the attack was in retribution for bin Laden's death, with more to come.
"Terrorists are repeatedly relying on suicide attackers because they are so often successful in meeting their objectives of death and destruction," Salem said. "These incidents will only stop when we prove to terrorists that suicide bombers can be detected and detained before the blast. The Thermal Matrix ACT system can do that. We are ready to provide complete units where needed, or add-on our detection technology where thermal imagers are already in use."
By analyzing the heat signatures provided by thermal imagers, the Thermal Matrix ACT system is able to provide a real-time analysis of what a person may be hiding beneath their clothing, the object's size and shape, and where it is located. All of this information is provided to security personnel without any invasion of privacy concerns, since the system does not x-ray the body as other technologies do.
With a set-up time of less than ten minutes, ACT can be used in multiple applications through a wide range of environments. The system is designed to be operated by one person, indoors or out.
