EXHIBIT 10.61


                                 PROMISSORY NOTE

U.S. $36,000                                              DATE: JANUARY 15, 2004
Irvine, California

         1. AMOUNT. HiEnergy Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation having
its principal place of business located at 1601 Alton Parkway, Unit B, Irvine,
California 92606 (the "Borrower"), for value received, hereby promises to pay to
the order of DR. BOGDAN C. MAGLICH (the "Lender") the following:

         Principal:        $36,000
         Interest Rate:    5%
         Date Due:         ON CALL

         2. PAYMENT. Any unpaid Principal and Interest on this Promissory Note
will become due and payable no later than above stated date. All such payments
shall be made in same day funds denominated in United States Dollars.

         3. INTEREST. Interest on the outstanding principal balance of this Note
shall accrue at the above stated per annum. Interest on the outstanding
principal balance of the Note shall be computed on the basis of the actual
number of days elapsed and a year of three hundred and sixty-five (365) days.

         4. PRESENTMENT. The Borrower (i) waives presentment, demand, protest
and notice of presentment, notice of protest and notice of any kind respecting
this Promissory Note; and (ii) agrees that this Promissory Note shall be binding
upon the Borrower and the Borrower's successors and assigns.

         5. REPLACEMENT. Upon receipt of a duly executed, notarized and
unsecured written statement from the Lender with respect to the loss, theft or
destruction of this Note (or any replacement hereof), and without requiring an
indemnity bond or other security, or, in the case of a mutilation of this Note,
upon surrender and cancellation of such Note, the Borrower shall issue a new
Note, of like tenor and amount, in lieu of such lost, stolen, destroyed or
mutilated Note.

         6. SEVERABILITY. In the event any one or more of the provisions
contained in this Promissory Note shall for any reason be held to be invalid,
illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or
unenforceability shall, at the option of the Lender or any holder hereof, not
affect any other provision of this Promissory Note, but this Promissory Note
shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had
never been contained herein.

         7. MODIFICATION. This Promissory Note may only be modified by an
agreement in writing executed by the Borrower and Lender. The Borrower has the
full power, authority and legal right to execute and deliver this Promissory
Note, and represents that this Promissory Note constitutes a valid and binding
obligation of the Borrower.

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         8. WAIVERS. Any failure of the Lender to exercise any right hereunder
shall not be construed as a waiver of the right to exercise the same or any
other right at any other time.

         9. ENFORCEMENT EXPENSES. The Borrower agrees to pay all costs and
expenses of enforcement of this Note, including, without limitation, reasonable
attorneys' fees and expenses.

         10. TERMS DEFINED. The terms "Borrower" and "Lender" as used in this
Promissory Note shall include their respective heirs, executors, personal
representatives, successors and assigns.

         11. BINDING EFFECT. The obligations of the Borrower and the Lender set
forth herein shall be binding upon the successors and assigns of each such
party.

         12. CONTROLLING LAW. This Note shall be governed by the laws of the
United States of America and the State of California, without regard to the
principles of conflicts laws of those jurisdictions.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Borrower has executed and delivered this Note
as of the date first written above.


                                            HIENERGY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
                                            A Delaware Corporation

                                            By: /s/ B. C. Maglich
                                                -------------------------------
                                                 Name: Dr. Bogdan C. Maglich
                                                 Title: Chairman and CEO

                                            By: /s/ I. C. Nicodin
                                                -------------------------------
                                                 Name: Ioana C. Nicodin
                                                 Title: Corporate Secretary