U.S. Department of Homeland Security on Friday announced a list of first 11 airports to be equipped with full-body scanning machines to better detect possible threats.

"By accelerating the deployment of this technology, we are enhancing our capability to detect and disrupt threats of terrorism across the nation," Secretary Janet Napolitano said in a press release.

"These 11 airports will be the first of many to receive this enhanced technology" funded by the federal stimulus package, she said, adding that additional airports will be announced in the near future.

Those scanners are "designed to bolster security by safely screening passengers for metallic and non-metallic threats -- including weapons, explosives and other objects concealed under layers of clothing," said the release.

Traditional detectors that are usually deployed at airports across the world can not detect non-metallic explosives that a Nigerian used when attempting to destroy a U.S.-bound flight on Dec. 25, 2009.

In addressing public's concern that the new procedure is likely to violate passengers' privacy, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), affiliated with Homeland Security Department, promised to blur pictures of passengers' faces and delete all images produced right after checking as response.

Currently, 40 full-body scanners purchased previously are deployed at 19 airports nationwide. TSA expects to deploy a total of 450 units by the end of 2010.