Innovations & technologies

US Spies Want Laser to Detect Bombs, Chemical Weapons from 100 Feet Away

The US Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IAPRA) announced plans this week to develop a hand-held laser-based remote sensor capable of detecting and identifying chemical weapons, explosives, narcotics and biological agents from distances of up to 100 feet.
...The new device "would use infrared lasers to measure the signature of chemical agents and different molecules so that it’s much safer and a more practical way of interrogating a surface like the bottom of someone’s shoe," said Kevin Kelly, CEO of LGS Innovations which was awarded $11 million over four years by the SILMARILS project, DefenseOne reported.

Additional technical challenges facing development teams include ensuring that the laser remains eye-safe and visually unobservable, in addition to building a device that is "human-portable size."

US officials hope that the device could be developed to the extent that law enforcement, national security personnel and airport security could use it in a drive-by fashion to secure areas around crowds, including public events, airport departure lines and train stations.