PRESS RELEASE • FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Argos identifies explosives, homemade explosives and other chemical threats without contact at up to 15 meters with results in seconds.
TAMPA BAY, Florida, USA — October 16, 2026— Alakai Defense Systems, Inc., a veteran-owned technology company based in the Tampa Bay region of Florida, is introducing Argos, its handheld deep ultraviolet (UV) Raman standoff chemical detector, to explosive ordnance disposal (EOD), bomb technicians, counter-IED and security teams worldwide.
Argos identifies explosives, homemade explosives (HME), explosive precursor chemicals, chemical warfare agents (CWA), toxic industrial chemicals (TICs), toxic industrial materials (TIMs), and other chemical threats/hazardous materials without contact, at standoff distances of up to 15 meters, with results between 4 and 15 seconds. Operation is simple – the operator aims Argos, fires and receives a color-coded result – red for a threat, green for a non-threat – with supporting full chemical identification information, hazard data from the GHS database, photographic evidence of what was analyzed, GPS coordinates, and the spectrum of the material.
Argos handheld deep UV Raman standoff chemical detector
Core C-IED / EOD Capabilities
- Standoff identification: 0.7 to 15 meters from the target.
- Fast results: 4 to 15 seconds typical integration time per shot.
- Explosives and HME library: Including explosives, HME, CWAs, TICs/TIMs and hazardous materials, identified by an on-board AI/machine-learning trained algorithm.
- Trace to bulk: Detects bulk samples, residues and trace samples.
- Works in daylight: The 261 nm laser operates outdoors in direct sunlight, conditions that can interfere with traditional infrared Raman systems.
- Evidence and reporting: A photograph is captured with every shot, and one-page PDF reports can be exported for documentation and forensic exploitation.
- Hot-zone ready: Designed for typical hot-zone tasks in Level A PPE, with remote operation from the cold zone via the included mobile device.
- Rugged: MIL-STD-810H shock and vibration tested.
Global Footprint & Operational Support
- Export classification: Argos is not ITAR-controlled; it is classified under ECCN 1A004.D. Licensing requirements depend on destination and end user.
- Local support: International customers are supported through Alakai’s local channel partners, with reachback support from Alakai.
- Continuous improvement: Standard software updates are released twice a year, and Alakai works with customers to expand the chemical library with region-specific data.
See Argos in Action
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- Trace explosive residue detection (3 trace explosives identified at 5 meters away in 20 seconds)
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- Liquid trace detection (3 liquid trace samples representing explosives, CWAs, and TICs at 5 meters away in 20 seconds)
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- Speed of analysis in bright daylight (10 samples in bright daylight in 2 minutes)
About Alakai Defense Systems, Inc.
Alakai Defense Systems is a veteran-owned technology company based in the Tampa Bay region of Florida within the United States. For more than 20 years, Alakai has specialized in deep ultraviolet (UV) laser and electro-optical sensors for standoff detection of chemical threats in defense and security applications. Alakai designs and manufactures its systems in-house in Florida.
Visit alakaidefense.com or contact us at [email protected] | Tel: +1 727 541 1600
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