The Department of Energy has introduced a new aircraft unit that will work to enable specialized radiation detection capabilities.
Built by Textron‘s Beechcraft subsidiary as an extended range variant of the King Air 350i system, the King Air 350ER is designed to perform baseline surveys and gauge ground and air contamination through the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Aerial Measuring System, DOE said Thursday.
The department noted the aircraft will augment AMS’s capacities in conducting accelerated wide-area assessments of nuclear activities.
“As part of its dual public safety and national security mission, AMS aircraft frequently support security preparations for high-profile events such as presidential inaugurations, the Super Bowl, Boston Marathon, and other major public events,” said Lisa Gordon-Hagerty, administrator at NNSA.