The Explosives Division (EXD) is a division of the Science and Technology Directorate of the

United States Department of Homeland Security The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is the Federal government of the United States, U.S. United States federal executive departments, federal executive department responsible for public security, roughly comparable to the I ...

. Within the

Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency (HSARPA) is a part of the Science and Technology Directorate at the United States Department of Homeland Security. Much like DARPA in the Department of Defense, HSARPA is tasked with advanced proj ...

, EXD develops technologies needed to detect, interdict, and lessen the effect of non-nuclear explosives used by terrorists against mass transit, civil aviation, and critical infrastructure.

Overview

The 2007 High Priority Technical Needs Brochure, an article published by Homeland Security, defines critical focus areas for explosives research: * Standoff detection on persons (portable solutions) * System solution for detection in baggage (checked & carried) * Capability to detect VBIED (Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Devices) of large threat mass (container, trailer, ship, vessel, car, rail) * Capability to detect homemade and novel explosives * Capability to assess, render safe, and neutralize explosive threats * Optimize canine explosive detection capabilityhttps://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/High_Priority_Technology_Needs.pdf

References

Explosives Division {{US-gov-stub