Main Aspects of the Automated Transportation Security System Development

This paper discusses the Automated Transportation Security System (ATSS) that has been developed and deployed to counter the escalating threat of nuclear terrorism. The challenges associated with security of special nuclear material (SNM) transportation relative to stationary nuclear sites are discussed, including limitations on the number of guard personnel in a transport vehicle, weight restrictions of a transport vehicle, transport over long distances, and distance of the response force deployment from a probable emergency area. The ATSS architecture balances hardware components ensuring physical protection of SNM, the guard force accompanying transport vehicles, and the response force arriving to an emergency area if necessary. Criteria for the sufficiency of the requirements for technical security equipment are put forward. Based on the requirements, an optimal ATSS structure is proposed, including the following subsystems: intrusion detection, access delay to SNM, communications and control, and response to an emergency situation. Practical methods for assessing the effectiveness of the ATSS, both during its development and operation, are considered. A comprehensive approach is suggested that includes the following: • mathematical modeling methods that will describe a combat struggle between the guard personnel and terrorists, depending on the type of arms and physical protection equipment; • field testing to determine reliability and durability of protection equipment; • field testing to determine physical effect resistance; and • large-scale demonstration exercise in close to real conditions. The benefits of the ATSS and results from assessments of the system are also discussed.