Tyndall Air Force Base has fielded an X-ray machine to speed up the search process for vehicles carrying cargo and building materials.
The Mobile Vehicle Access Control Inspection System, dubbed as VACIS M6500, expedites the time needed to check commercial vehicles from 15 minutes to a two-minute time frame, the U.S. Air Force said Saturday.
"The image from the X-ray will allow us to quickly and efficiently scan for any anomalies, ensure the correct number of passengers are in the vehicle and confirm there is nothing in the cargo that should not be there," said Norman Shoemake, a search specialist at the 325th Security Forces Squadron.
USAF aims to process four times the number of vehicles within an hour through the device. The service branch noted base security previously asked drivers to turn off their vehicles and open all compartments for a thorough search procedure.
The $2.2 million machine is a part of a five to seven-year effort that seeks to rebuild Tyndall AFB following the effects of Hurricane Michael in 2018.
