A practical comparison guide across the full ThreatScan® range
No two security operations are identical, and no single portable X-ray system is right for every team. With six systems in the ThreatScan® range, finding the right one for you is about where you operate and what you’re screening.
All six systems share core imaging software, with ThreatSpect providing materials discrimination, DeepFocus™, and 3D Emboss available across the range. Penetration power is comparable too, reaching up to 60mm at 150kV across the board.
What separates the six systems isn’t detection capability; rest assured that no matter what system you decide to purchase, you will have access to the same high standard of detection. The main differences to be aware of are detector technology, imaging area, weight, ruggedness, and imaging station format. This guide breaks down those differences so you can identify the right fit for your operations quickly.
The Six Systems at a Glance
Before getting into the details, here’s a snapshot of where each system sits:
- The AS1 is the flagship system — the versatile middle ground that covers the majority of applications.
- The AS2 is the lightest system in the range, combining minimal weight with IP67 ingress protection.
- The AS1(ISC) is a fully integrated, self-contained system built around a 22″ touchscreen, designed for extended operations.
- The LS3 is compact and backpack-portable, built for confined spaces and rapid deployment.
- The LS1 offers the largest imaging area in the range, suited to vehicles and bulk items.
- The LSC combines both the LS1 and LS3 panels in one system, giving teams maximum flexibility.
Two Detector Technologies, One Range
Before comparing individual systems, it’s worth understanding a technical distinction that runs across the whole range and shapes how each system performs.
The AS1, AS2, and AS1(ISC) all use amorphous silicon flat-panel detectors, producing real-time images the instant a scan is activated. The LS1, LS3, and the dual-panel LSC (which contains both an LS1 and LS3 panel) use linear photo-diode array detectors instead.
For the vast majority of field scenarios, this difference doesn’t meaningfully affect operational capability; however, it’s worth understanding the distinction between the two groups. Image resolution and detection capability remain high across both detector types.
ThreatScan® AS1 — The Balanced Option
The AS1 offers a 35×43 cm (14″×17″) imaging area with a panel weight of 3.7 kg including the battery and handle. It uses amorphous silicon real-time imaging technology, carries an IP67 rating for water and dust ingress protection, and operates across a temperature range of -20°C to +55°C.
This system suits versatile use across multiple mission types, where a team needs a single system that handles most scenarios competently rather than excelling narrowly at one. The IP67 rating means it performs reliably in wet or dusty operating environments without requiring a separate ruggedised option.
The AS1 is a strong fit for teams without a single dominant use case, for first-time procurement where broad capability is preferred before specialising further, and for operations that need environmental ruggedness alongside general versatility.
ThreatScan® AS2 — The Lightest System in the Range
The AS2 has a smaller 25×30 cm (10″×12″) imaging area, with a panel weight of just 1.46 kg including battery and handle, making it the lightest in the entire range.
Like the AS1, it uses amorphous silicon real-time imaging technology and carries an IP67 rating. Its operating temperature range is -20°C to +50°C.
The AS2 works brilliantly for foot patrols and extended operations due to its low weight and for wet, humid, or dusty environments where IP67 protection is essential. It’s the right choice for scenarios where minimising carried weight is a priority.
Since the AS1 also has IP67 protection, the decision between the two usually depends on balancing the size of the imaging area with the weight, rather than how tough they are; both systems can handle wet or dusty conditions just as well.
ThreatScan® AS1(ISC) — Fully Integrated and Self-Contained
The AS1(ISC) shares the AS1’s 35×43 cm (14″×17″) imaging area and 3.7 kg panel weight and uses the same amorphous silicon real-time imaging technology.
Where it differs significantly is in its generator options and its format: an integrated 22″ touchscreen computer housed in a rugged case, paired with a secondary tablet imaging station. It also offers the best battery life in the range, delivering over 600 images on a single charge.
This system is built for extended field operations where an all-in-one, minimal-assembly system is preferable to managing separate components. The extended runtime between charges makes it particularly well suited to operations that can’t easily pause for recharging.
Teams prioritising integration and extended battery life over portability should consider the AS1(ISC), particularly those operating from a fixed or semi-fixed position such as a command post, rather than on-foot deployment.
ThreatScan® LS3 — Compact and Rapidly Deployable
The LS3 offers a 305×256 mm imaging area with a panel weight of 2.7 kg (3.2kg with battery). It uses the linear photodiode array detector technology, producing images via a 2.7-second scan.
This system is built for confined spaces where a larger panel would be impractical and for rapid deployment scenarios where setup speed matters. Despite its compact size, it remains capable of scanning smaller suspicious items, including packages, bags, and individual devices in a single pass.
The LS3 suits teams prioritising speed and mobility and first responders who need to move quickly between locations without being weighed down by larger equipment.
ThreatScan® LS1 — Maximum Imaging Area
The LS1 offers the largest imaging area in the range at 600×460 mm, with a panel weight of 5 kg (5.5kg including battery and handle). It uses the linear photodiode array detector technology, with a 5-second scan time, and can scan to within 3 mm of floor level.
This makes the LS1 particularly well suited to vehicle screening, where coverage area matters more than setup speed, as well as TSCM operations and the assessment of large packages or bulk items.
Teams regularly screening vehicles or large objects should consider the LS1, particularly where a single large panel reduces the need for image stitching across multiple scans.
ThreatScan® LSC — Maximum Flexibility
The LSC combines both the LS1 and LS3 panels in a single system, using linear photo-diode array detector technology across both.
The combined panel weight is 7.7 kg (not including batteries and handles), and the system includes both scan speeds (5 seconds for the LS1 panel, 2.7 seconds for the LS3 panel), depending on which is deployed. Unlike the other systems in the range, the LSC’s imaging station is a tablet PC rather than a laptop.
This system is built for teams that cannot predict in advance whether they’ll need large-area or compact imaging and for multi-scenario deployments spanning both vehicle checks and confined-space assessments within the same operation.
NOTE: Penetration power (up to 60 mm at 150 kV), ThreatSpect software, materials discrimination, DeepFocus™, and 3D Emboss are available across all six systems.
Questions to Ask Before You Decide
A few practical questions can help narrow down the right system for your team:
What are you typically screening?
Small packages point toward the AS2 or LS3; vehicles and bulk items point toward the LS1; general mixed use points toward the AS1.
Does your environment demand ingress protection?
Wet, humid, or dusty conditions point toward the AS1 or AS2, both of which carry IP67 ratings.
How much does portability matter?
Operations on foot favour the AS1, AS2, or LS3, whilst vehicle-supported operations open up the LS1, AS1(ISC), and LSC as viable options.
Do you need an all-in-one integrated solution?
The AS1(ISC) suits command post or extended operations where minimal assembly is preferable.
Do your operational needs vary significantly between deployments?
The LSC’s dual-panel flexibility may justify its higher weight and cost if your team regularly faces both large-area and compact imaging requirements.
How important is battery life for extended operations?
The AS1(ISC) offers the best per-charge image count in the range, at over 600 images.
Making the Right Choice for Your Team
There’s no universally “best” system in the ThreatScan® range, only the best fit for your specific requirements.
Many organisations operate more than one system to cover different scenarios: an AS2 for harsh-environment foot patrols, for instance, alongside an LS1 for vehicle checkpoints. There’s no requirement to find a single system that does everything; sometimes the right answer is a combination suited to distinct parts of your operation.
If you’d like tailored guidance based on your specific operational requirements, our team is happy to talk through your use cases and help you identify the right fit (or combination of systems) for your team.