The US Department of Defense has awarded a $4.5-million contract to Israeli firm StemRad to produce gamma radiation shields for American troops.
A total of 630 units of the company’s protective 360 Gamma belts will be delivered to the US for use in responding to potential radiological and nuclear incidents.
The belts reportedly protect soldiers from lethal gamma radiation during bombings, terrorist attacks, or accidents that include a nuclear reactor meltdown.
In addition to the protective device, StemRad will provide onsite training at the National Guard Consequence Management Support Center in Kentucky.
“This partnership with the National Guard Bureau is a significant step in implementing our protective technology to support American servicemembers,” company executive Oren Milstein said.
Protecting Most Sensitive Body Parts
StemRad explained that the concept of its 360 Gamma belt moves away from traditional suites in which the whole body is protected.
This reportedly decreases the burden of soldiers as they do not have to carry heavy shielding, in addition to other necessary equipment.
The 360 Gamma belt focuses on protecting the most sensitive parts of the body – specifically, the bone marrow.
“Partial body shielding is lighter in weight and selectively shields tissues of increased radiosensitivity with substantial amounts of shielding material to protect hematopoietic functions,” the company stated. “If this area is adequately protected, the danger of radiation sickness plummets…”
