DRDO’s new bomb detection device can spot 20 homemade explosives from two meters away

• The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore have developed a new bomb detection device called Raider-X.
  
• It can detect up to 20 homemade explosives from up to two meters away.
  
• Raider-X’s data library can be updated to accommodate the detection of different explosives in their pure and contaminated forms.
  

A new explosives detection device was unveiled at the National Workshop on Explosive Detection 2020 in Pune. Dubbed Raider-X, it can detect up to 20 explosives from a stand-off distance of two meters.

Chairman of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Satheesh Reddy said that such devices were incremental to thwarting the threat from homemade explosives.

According to him, most of the recent terrorist attacks had explosives that were made from easily available ingredients like petrol and gelatin sticks rather than high-end materials.

"There is no universal solution in the field of explosive detection as it is constantly evolving. There is a need for a synergetic approach towards developing the latest explosive detectors by bringing scientific institutes, academia, security agencies, armed forces and police on one platform," said Reddy.

Raider-X was developed by the High Energy Material Research Laboratory (HEMRL) — an arm of the DRDO — in Pune and the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore.

Raider-X — Features and capabilities
The default Raidex-X can detect explosives from a distance of 2 meters. However, according to the director of the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Shiva Umapathy, the stand-off distance can be increased.

The customisation could result in an increase in the size and weight of the kit. This could make it difficult for the security personnel to carry around.

The Raider-X can also discern bulk explosives even if they have been concealed. Since the nature of homemade explosives can vary and change over time, law enforcement agencies have the option to update the detector’s data library. The data library will allow the device to detect multiple explosives, in their pure form as well as with contaminants.

"The device has various applications including narcotics, for local police, for customs and other detection agencies who need to detect various elements which may be explosive or non-explosive in nature," said Umapathy.

In addition to working on explosive detectors, the DRDO is also working with over 1,800 industries to produce weapons which will be handed over to the army. It also deployed an anti-drone system in Ahmedabad ahead of US President Donald Trump’s two-day visit to India.

See also:
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DRDO working with 1,800 industries to make weapons for the army

DRDO's anti-drone system has been deployed in Ahmedabad ahead of Trump's visit