Photo: Smiths Detection
Smiths Detection has launched an automated International Remote Baggage Screening System (IRBS) between South Korea and the US.
The official implementation of the IRBS follows its soft launch in August 2025 and a multi-agency certification effort involving US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Incheon International Airport Corporation, Korean Air, Delta Air Lines and Leidos among others. According to the security screening technology company, the move sets a new global standard for cross-border aviation security and passenger processing between the two countries.
“The deployment of SecurePort-IRB-K at Incheon marks a defining moment for the global aviation security industry,” said Sunghoon Eom, Country Manager, South Korea, Smiths Detection.
Reiterating that this is the first time a fully automated DICOS-based baggage screening workflow has been deployed between two countries, he added: “Incheon’s leadership and Smiths Detection’s vision made this milestone possible.”
Incheon International Airport Corporation (IIAC) has been pioneering this next-generation aviation security technology, implementing the IRBS at Incheon. The system is currently only available for passengers and their bags being transported to Atlanta, but eventually the plan is to enable it for other US connections from Incheon, including Minneapolis, Seattle, Los Angeles, Detroit and Salt Lake City.
Using the new IRBS, checked bags for passengers departing or connecting through Incheon for the US are screened remotely by US CBP before landing in the US. Once cleared, bags are transferred directly to their destination, eliminating the need for the traditional reclaim and recheck process at the first US port of arrival.
This new process removes a critical bottleneck, reducing connection times by up to 20 minute and enhancing the passenger experience, as well as airport efficiency.
Describing IRBS as more than a system, Cymoril Metivier, Global Digital Portfolio Director, Smiths Detection said, “It is a blueprint for the future of aviation.”
By leveraging the performance of the HI-SCAN 10080 XT and advanced digital connectivity, he added that “Incheon has shown how airports can scale securely, eliminate friction points, and redefine the international passenger experience. This model will shape global airport strategies for years to come.”
Powered by Smiths Detection’s remote screening platform, SecurePort-IRBS-K, the system is deployed with 22 software licenses integrated with HI-SCAN 10080 XCT computed tomography (CT) X-ray systems installed at Incheon International Airport’s Terminal 2. The IRBS integrates with the airport’s advanced baggage handling facilities, providing high-resolution, 3D volumetric imaging of checked baggage, enabling sophisticated threat detection. Images are transmitted to CBP through a fully compliant data-exchange environment.
