The U.S. Army is stepping up delivery of high-tech checkpoint

detection systems in support of the Afghanistan surge as a way to better

search at Forward Operating Bases (FOB) entry control points and other

key locations for bomb-making materials, weapons, contraband and other

kinds of threat-related activities, service officials said.

The Army is sending hundreds more Non-Intrusive Inspection Systems

(NIIS) to Afghanistan -- mobile scanning technologies of varying sizes

and weights which can be stationary or vehicle mounted, said Maj. Gregg

Spencer, assistant product manager, NIIS.

"Generally they are used at checkpoints. We tend to use them at entry

control points to look for contraband coming on the FOB and look for

bombs inside a vehicle. In some cases they can be used at traffic

control points to do some interdiction," said Spencer. "The NIIS is a

family of systems that uses different technologies. Some use gamma rays,

some use X-rays and some can use millimeter waves to non-intrusively

inspect the interior of vehicles and inspect what is on a person without

touching him or her."

While much of the results of what the systems uncover is not available

to the public, the arrival of the systems is a welcome sight for troops

in theater, Spencer said.

"We do know that when the first systems arrived at Bagram airfield

everybody was cheering. The war fighter feels more confident when we

have these systems," he said.

The NIIS increase unit efficiency by reducing the need for manpower at

checkpoints, said Lt. Col. James Choung, product manager, NIIS.

"NIIS is a force multiplier; it strengthens the protection capability

of personnel and equipment while minimizing manpower requirements for

vehicles, cargo and personnel inspections at FOB entry control points

and border crossing points," Choung said.