Phoenix Nuclear Labs, a Monona maker of particle acceleration and neutron generation systems, has won U.S. Army contracts worth $3.6 million.

Under the contracts, Phoenix will build an advanced neutron radiography system to detect imperfections in ammunition and to identify concealed explosive threats. Neutron radiography is a nondestructive inspection technique that is similar to X-rays, but is able to more deeply penetrate high-density materials such as shell casings and other metal objects. It can be used for applications such as showing cracks in the wings of fighter jets or in the plating on tanks. Read the full story here.