Out with the old, in with the new: Modernized EOD x-ray system saves time, lives

When some people think of an x-ray, they might picture a person in a white lab coat pointing at a backlit image of a human skeleton. Suppose the very same technology used to provide doctors with an ability to see the inner workings of a human body could be used to detect explosive devices.

It is not a new concept. The 71st Ordnance Disposal Group (EOD) and organizations across the nation, such as airports or state and government buildings, use x-ray systems to keep the public safe from possible acts of terror.

For more than 10 years, explosive ordnance disposal Soldiers have used portable x-ray systems, such as the RTR-4, to see the inner workings of suspicious packages or confirmed improvised explosive devices.