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Durham’s Kromek announces new US defense agency contract wins

Kromek, a radiation detection technology company focusing on the medical, security and nuclear markets, has announced new contract wins the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Defense.

The programme with DARPA is to develop an advanced personal detection system for gamma and neutron radiation that can be combined with other such systems to form large networks that can provide information on radiation signatures over an extended area – and thereby detect anomalies in cities that could indicate an act of terrorism, such as a ‘dirty bomb’.

The Durham-based firm has won a sole source contract to supply spectroscopic personal radiation detectors (D3S) in support of DARPA’s SIGMA programme, which aims to counter nuclear terrorism. The contract also includes an additional award for an accessory for the D3S, valued at $6.0m with delivery commencing immediately.

Under the terms of the contract, Kromek will deliver the D3S detectors during the current and next financial year and will also supply up to 12,000 Inductive Charging packs for D3S detectors and associated mobile devices over the same period.

Arnab Basu, Chief Executive Officer of Kromek, said: “The D3S is the world’s first fully approved combined gamma and neutron detector available in volume shipment and at a market leading unit price of $400, which is also available to other user organisations buying over 10,000 detectors in a single procurement.

“It is a significant breakthrough for us and we are pleased to have achieved the technological advancement that has enabled DARPA to be ahead of their own original programme performance expectations. We look forward to successfully delivering on the contract.”

Renewal

The company has also won a modification to its existing contract with DARPA for $748k.

The extension to the existing contract is for the utilisation of the technologies and building blocks, developed by Kromek for the D3S product for DARPA, in legacy gamma scintillation detectors. The intention is to ascertain if these legacy detectors can be retrofitted with updated technology so that they can be used in either mobile or vehicle mounted systems.

From August 2014 to date, Kromek has been awarded a total of $5.37m in contracted revenues under the SIGMA programme with DARPA.

Arnab Basu, Chief Executive Officer, added: “The detector technologies we have developed have significant potential for various applications in a number of other major U.S. Government agency programmes requiring similar capability. We expect our work with DARPA will enable us to continue to provide innovative solutions to them and others seeking to protect against acts of terrorism.”