Kromek, a high-tech scanner firm, has won a contract worth £700,000 to supply the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) with an advanced portable radiation detection system.

Based at NetPark in Sedgefield, County Durham the company will develop the detection system over a 12-month contract which could potentially lead to a long-term arrangement.

Kromek also supplies specialist scanners to the medical and security industries.

Chief Executive Arnab Basu said: “Kromek is delighted to receive this award from DARPA which closely follows recent awards from other areas of the US Government and is further recognition of the advances Kromek’s detector technology platforms are making into growing global markets.”