BRUSSELS, May 14 (Xinhua) -- NATO on Monday said it launched a new initiative to help detect explosives and firearms in public transport.

The program brings together experts from France, Ukraine and South Korea to design a microwave imaging system, which will be able to detect explosives and concealed weapons in mass transport environments.

The project, called microwave imaging curtain, has been co-funded by NATO and France, according to NATO's press release.

The system will be ready for on-site testing as of 2020.