Locally-made bomb detector’s prototype expected in six months

BANGKOK, 24 February 2010 (NNT) – A Thai-made bomb detecting scanner will be created within five or six months if budgets and personnel are available, according to Science and Technology Minister, Khunying Kalaya Sophonpanich.

Khumying Kalaya disclosed that the ministry is preparing to work with experts and scientists in inventing an efficient explosive detector. She expected that the joint effort will take about 5 or 6 months to complete a prototype.

She elaborated further that the ministry has assigned a team of experts to travel to the deep South on 28 February to explain the test results of the controversial GT200 bomb detector to the operating units and to also bring additional security-related devices as a replacement for the failed GT200.

Field trials by a panel of specialists appointed by the Ministry of Science and Technology last week showed that the GT200 was incapable of detecting explosives as claimed. The device proved correct in only four tests out of 20. The army reconfirmed it would continue to use the discredited device in the southern region despite its ineffectiveness.

The Cabinet on Tuesday ordered the suspension of the use of the GT200 bomb detecting devices after probe results showed their poor performance in scanning for explosives.