UPI has reported that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has launched a $1.2b plan to deploy more advanced radiological screening devices at U.S. ports. By 2011, the DHS expects to have 1,400 of the next-generation screeners deployed at both ports and border crossings. The new detectors will range in cost from $350,000 to about $500,000 each, compared to the $180,000 for those currently employed. Officials, however, expect that the more-expensive systems will reduce the number of containers flagged for more-complete inspections each year from 821,000 to 15,000, the report said. The DHS also announced a plan to deploy the new devices in and around U.S. cities, and Oxford said work on a $3 million pilot deployment program has begun in New York City, GSN said.