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NNSA - Air Secure

Goal:  Strengthen Lithuania’s Vilnius International Airport detection and interception capabilities for the transit of radioactive material.

The MELE Team designed a system to help keep nuclear materials from being placed on board aircraft as part of a program at DOE that involves strengthening nuclear material detection capabilities in the Baltic Countries. The project provided Vilnius International Airport in Lithuania with improved capability for detecting and intercepting transit radioactive material, and to also ensure the detection equipment operates for an extended period of time.

Overview:  In concert with the Department of Energy, MELE Associates designed, installed and tested a unique, state-of-the art nuclear and radiological threat reduction system at Vilnius International Airport in Lithuania to strengthen airport security and nuclear material detection capabilities at the Vilnius Airport, which lies in a Baltic Country bordering Russia and Belarus. The project consisted of installing radiation (RAD) detectors, surveillance equipment, data management and analysis software, and networking and communications equipment.

The main response and review station has software that displays data instantly during a RAD detection device alarm. The software provides an alarm sound as well as pre-alarm pictures, alarm pictures, and a number of post alarm pictures. All system users receive radioactivity intensity data generated by the portals. This radiological threat reduction system is fully operational and has been extremely robust and reliable for many years to date.

 Both DOE and the Lithuanian government have praised the system as an excellent technology solution that significantly improves security and reduces the risk of illicit nuclear and radiological material transiting Vilnius Airport to the United States. This totally integrated, nuclear and radiological threat reduction and data transmission system can be quickly installed at any air or seaport in the world.