Smiths Intros Hand-Held Vapor Detector

Smiths Detection has introduced a hand-held vapor detector for volatile chemicals commonly used in home-made bombs. The SABRE EXV, using Smiths Detection’s Ion Mobility Spectrometry (IMS) technology, is a lightweight portable device that can detect and identify explosive substances, including peroxide-based chemicals, in as little as 10 seconds. The firm’s Stephen Phipson said: “The SABRE EXV will fill a gap in detecting Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) for the military and the airline industry in particular.” Peroxide-based chemicals found in common household products have been used as the basic ingredients of many IEDs which are relatively easy to make and difficult to detect. They have been used in a number of high-profile terror plots in recent years and the SABRE EXV has been developed specifically to combat those threats.
Peroxide-based explosives continue to be a major challenge to security officials and a serious threat to the traveling public. The SABRE EXV will provide aviation security officials and the military a reliable, light-weight detector that can detect these unstable chemicals, which pose a threat when assembled as part of a bomb or while being transported.