Briefly noted

Raytheon awarded contract for exploratory nuclear detection research
Raytheon Company was awarded a DHS contract to develop a Stand-Off Warning Against Radiological Materials (SWARM) technology. The first phase of this effort is an eight-month contract for $764,000 managed by DHS’ Domestic Nuclear Detection Office under the Exploratory Research in Nuclear Detection Technology Program. It is the first of a five-phase development program worth $2.9 million if all options are exercised.

Navies may get tougher on piracy after tanker seizure
The seizure of a Saudi oil supertanker by Somali pirates may push Western navies to step up their actions against hijackers, military experts said. NATO is reassessing its operations in the region and may adopt a tougher stance toward the pirates.

U.S. donates nuclear detection equipment to Nigeria
In order to locate, protect, and identify abandoned radioactive sources in Nigeria, the United States has donated radiation detection equipment to the country. The United States government on 26 May 2004 established the Global Threat Reduction Search and Secure Project to train nuclear regulatory abandoned radioactive sources. Twenty-three nations have already benefited from the program.