Manufacturing Biz #2 - Magazine - Page 24
Dogs use Kromek Detectors to find
radiation on Ukraine’s battlefields
D
ogs carrying radiation detectors the
size of a mobile phone have been
dispatched to the Ukraine to provide
troops with early warning of a nuclear
disaster. Real-time data on radiation
levels collected by eight dogs will be sent
to soldiers on the ground, who will be
able to decide whether to move forward
into battle. The radar technology, made
in Sedgefield, Co Durham, is so sensitive
that it will pick up even the lowest levels
of radiation. It can also identify the exact
nature of the radioactive source material,
such as plutonium or uranium. Arnab
Basu, chief executive of the manufacturer
Kromek, said:
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"The canines are going to add
an enormous new capability
to the Ukrainian forces to
deal with difficult situations."
- Arnab Basu, chief
executive of the
manufacturer Kromek
"We are able to provide the highest quality
information to people who are responsible
for protecting or monitoring the field. If
you have the right information you can
act in the right way and that saves lives.
M A N U FA C T U R I N G B I Z M A G A Z I N E | A P R I L 2 0 2 4
There is no one silver bullet but the more
capability that can be provided the better.”
The team of detector dogs is made up
of Belgian malinois, German shepherds
and one Dutch shepherd. They are called
Zyga, Ines, Dimico, Bella, Zorr, Rapina,
Tomy and Lilly. Although dogs sent to
Ukraine previously have been used to
find landmines, the latest batch will carry
radiation detectors because of the risk of a
radiation incident caused by indiscriminate
shelling by Russian forces and fighting near
some of Ukraine’s nuclear power stations.
The detectors are attached to a harness on
the dogs, which also wear equipment to
protect their eyes and paws. The handler
carries a phone with an app which tells