Rohde & Schwarz awarded major security scanner contract from German Federal Ministry of the Interior

In July 2016, the Procurement Office of the German Federal Ministry of the Interior signed a framework agreement with Rohde & Schwarz for 300 R&S QPS200 security scanners. The new instruments can be now be used everywhere that the German Federal Police Force performs security checks. The primary application will be for security at German airports.

Rohde & Schwarz was awarded a contract by the Procurement Office of the German Federal Ministry of the Interior for the latest generation of R&S QPS200 security scanners. The three-year framework agreement encompasses 300 systems plus accessories and service.

This makes the R&S QPS200 the security scanner of choice for security checks based on millimeter-wave technology within German federal facilities. The instruments will be the preferred selection for the Federal Police for security checks at airports throughout Germany. The scanners can also be used for security access control in other places, such as in ministries, for example.

Rohde & Schwarz has successfully entered a new business field with the R&S QPS. The millimeter-wave technology is based on the company’s many years of expertise in developing globally leading test and measurement equipment. The security scanner automatically detects potentially dangerous objects under clothing or on the body, whether they are rigid, flexible, fluid, metallic or non-metallic. If the scanner reports an alarm, the location of the object is marked on an avatar, a symbolic graphic of the human body.

There is no health hazard associated with the R&S QPS transmit power, which is hundreds or even thousands of times lower than that of a mobile phone. It operates in the frequency range between 70 GHz and 80 GHz. A scan takes just a few milliseconds to complete. Scanning comfort is also improved since the individual being scanned simply stands in front of the scanner with their arms held slightly away from the body. The neutral graphical display preserves privacy.

The security scanners, which have been certified by the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC), has been thoroughly tested for suitability by the Federal Police, including a test phase extending over several months at Hannover Airport. This framework agreement represents Rohde & Schwarz‘s largest order for security scanners to date. Additional orders from other countries in Europe and around the world have already been received.