More counter IED system to the Army

On June 4, 2008 Applied Energetics, Inc., Tucson, Ariz. was awarded a $9,280,801 cost-plus-fixed fee contract for the continued development and production of ten counter improved explosive devise systems plus spares, operator training and technical support for an overseas operational assessment.

According to the DoD work will be performed in Tucson, Ariz. and is expected to be completed by June 4, 2008. Clerical error? The U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md. is the contracting activity.

Source: DoD

Talon's return

It seems much of the robot talk recently has focused on iRobot. However, the Talon by Foster-Miller (now a subsidiary of QinetiQ North America) is back.

F-M has been awarded a new $400 million IDIQ (indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity) contract for additional robots and replacement parts for service in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The contract award was made by the Robotic Systems Joint Program Office (RSJPO) administered by the Naval Air Warfare Training Systems Division (NAVAIR). It is a follow-on to the $150 million IDIQ awarded in the spring of 2007 that has now been fully funded.

Over 2,000 Talon robots are now deployed around the world.

Source: Press Release

Photo: Foster-Miler

BAE gets counter-IED support contract

BAE Systems has been awarded one of four prime contractor positions on the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization (JIEDDO) Operations Support Contract. The contract has a maximum value of approximately $452 million if all deliveries and task orders are exercised by the prime contractors.

Under the Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract, BAE Systems will provide JIEDDO with in-depth and integrated analysis services, subject matter expertise and programmatic support. While the majority of the work will be performed in the continental United States, other support will be performed around the world. No task orders have been awarded to date on this IDIQ.

BAE Systems has provided analytical support since the inception of the JIEDDO Counter-IED Operations Integration Center in 2006.

BAE Systems will also provide planning support to JIEDDO strategic actions, training support, operations research as well as assistance in developing effective, feasible solutions and concepts of operations that support improvement of counter-IED systems and integration. Other support services to be provided by the company under this contract include modeling and simulation support, data analysis from selected IED activities, and tracking and assessing counter-IED activities.

Source: BAE

More CREW systems

ITT has received two follow-on orders, together worth $70 million, for its CREW 2.1 Vehicle Receiver Jammers, vehicle-mounted systems designed to prevent the detonation of improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The contracts valued at $25 million and $45 million were awarded by the U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command, and announced recently by the U.S. Department of Defense.

Under the two contracts, ITT will build and deliver an additional 900 CREW 2.1 devices, plus spares and related equipment. The CREW program is helping the Department of Defense meet urgent system requirements and increased production demands to prevent the detonation of radio controlled IEDs.

These counter-IED devices will be mounted on Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) armored vehicles, and other military transport equipment, and deployed to current military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Source: ITT

Some reading to begin the week ...

Here are some items of general interest that we have found or have brought to our attention by readers. Thank you!

• The Birth of the Combined Explosives Exploitation Cell (Small Wars Journal, pdf)
• Forces see spike in IEDs in April (USA Today)
• Developments in Zimbabwe including Chinese arms shipment returning home ( New York Times)
• A look at Empire Challenge 2008 (Military Geospatial Technology)
• Loopholes keep Windows XP alive (BBC)

Sources: As cited

More CREW systems to Iraq

ITT Communications & Countermeasures Systems is being awarded a $45,194,148 modification to previously awarded contract for the production and support of 586 JCREW 2.1 Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device (RCIED) Electronic Warfare (CREW) systems to meet urgent Department of Defense (DoD) requirements in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Vehicle mounted CREW systems are one element of the DoD’s Joint Counter RCIED Electronic Warfare program. Spiral 2.1 CREW systems are vehicle mounted electronic jammers designed to prevent the initiation of RCIED.

Source: DoD

More jammers for Iraq

"ITT Communications & Countermeasures Systems, Thousand Oaks, Calif., is being awarded a $24,754,858 modification to previously awarded contract N00024-07-C-6311 to exercise an option for the production and support of 325 JCREW 2.1 Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device Electronic Warfare systems to meet urgent Department of Defense requirements in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom."

Last Winter ITT finalized its' acquisition of EDO Corporation. Founded in the 1920s by Earl D. Osborn EDO had its' initial success building airplane "floats". At the time of the buyout its' areas of business were: C4, Electronic Warfare, Integrated Systems and Structures, Undersea Warfare, and Professional and Engineering Services. This contract award is part of the EDO legacy through their Warlock program.

Sources: DoD and various.

The economics of counter-IED

Over the next 10 years, an estimated $23 billion will be spent on the development and production of major EW programs, according to Forecast International's “The Market for Electronic Warfare Systems.” Some 35,814 units of leading electronic countermeasures (ECM), radar warning receivers (RWRs), electronic support measures (ESM), and other EW systems that make up this analysis are expected to be produced through 2017.

“The need to counter IEDs has led to a sharp demand for systems and research designed specifically for that task,” said Andrew Dardine, Forecast International Senior Aerospace & Defense Analyst and author of the analysis. “The threat from these devices has only grown more in size and sophistication over the past few years. As a result, major contracts have been awarded to move the effort forward."

The market leaders in this analysis are Northrop Grumman, BAE Systems, Raytheon, ITT, and Lockheed Martin. The French defense firm Thales and Israel’s Elta Systems are also making increasingly strong showings in the areas of ESM and ECM systems for a variety of international applications.

While little has changed in recent years in terms of the apparent reluctance of any government agency to fund this extremely expensive work, EW manufacturers are jockeying for position in the market of missile protection for civilian airliners. The need to protect civilian airliners and other non-military aircraft has led many companies to invest large sums of money into adapting their military infrared (IR) countermeasures systems to new uses. The scope of this effort is truly international, with companies such as Saab, EADS, and Israel’s Rafael taking a strong lead, as well as BAE systems and Northrop Grumman.

While the prospect of equipping civilian aircraft is far from certain, the military demand for this technology is more assured. Northrop Grumman’s Large Aircraft IR Countermeasures (LAIRCM) system is expected to be installed on a growing number of NATO and U.S. aircraft. The FY08/09 U.S. defense budget features one of the biggest allotments for LAIRCM development and procurement in the system's history. The Pentagon plans to spend well over $1 billion through FY13 on procurement of the systems for these aircraft, declaring that its long-range desire is to equip a total of 444 aircraft.

Among military planners, the need to adapt and adopt airborne electronic attack (AEA) systems will also be a major market driver. Low-rate initial production of the U.S. Navy’s all-important EA-18G Growler AEA platform is to run through 2009-2012. Meanwhile, upgraded EA-6B Prowlers are deploying as fast as they can be completed. Desperately needing to disrupt and disable enemy communications on a moment’s notice, the U.S. Marine Corp has already taken an early lead in the program, procuring its own fleet of upgraded aircraft.

In terms of funding, based on a projection of the current U.S. defense budget, the Navy will likely spend more than $2.3 billion over the next 10 years on R&D for EW technology. Likewise, the Air Force can be expected to commit some $673.6 million for its own EW needs – a number that may change dramatically with the prospect of a possibly renewed B-52 Airborne Electronic Attack program.

Source: Forecast International Press Release

Report: IED crisis avoidable

One of the best defense writers on the web is Sharon Weinberger. She may be known to some of you for her investigations of whacky weapons. In Danger Room, however, Ms Weinberger looks at the report of a Marine Corps insider that "recounts in painstaking detail the missteps that delayed the fielding of bomb-resistant vehicles to Iraq."

The problem? Well, simply put "a 'Byzantine' acquisition system that pushes bureaucrats to protect their own programs and priorities, rather than seeking out the best available option."

The brief article and report will be of interest to anyone involved with or interested in: policy, politics, purchasing, or armored vehicles.

Sources: As cited

Joint IED defeat report

The Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization (JIEDDO) has released its' 2007 Annual Report.

The bottom line is that while IED attacks in Iraq are down it's the opposite story in Afghanistan. "The number of IEDs employed against U.S. forces in FY07 reached an all-time high, more than doubling over the last half of the fiscal year."

The 20 page report is an interesting read but it may raise as many questions as it answers. Just how successful is counter-IED technology? Is it the "best bang for the buck"?

Source: As cited
Photot: DoD

Chemring acquires Richmond EEI

Chemring Group has acquired EOD and IEDD specialist Richmond EEI Limited. "Richmond is a world leader in light-weight, long-range, recoilless disrupters – vital for safely neutralising unexploded ordnance and IEDs, whilst minimising the risk of collateral damage. ...

Richmond’s Search products include non-linear junction detectors, selective metal detectors and electronic stethoscopes. Portable wireless X-ray and video inspection kits provide the operator real time visual information to conduct a detailed assess of a device from a safe distance. Richmond’s core neutralisation products are its range of recoilless disrupters, which are stand mounted or carried by a remotely operated vehicle using Richmond’s proprietary weapon carriers. Its recoilless disruptors use a patented counter-piston design which fires a mass of water backwards at the same time as the main projectile or jet is fired. This means that disruptors can be fitted to even small robots, transforming their capability from reconnaissance to neutralisation.

Richmond also offers a wide range of ancillary and support equipment such as long arm remote manipulators, attenuators and suppression devices; freeze neutralising kits and personnel protective clothing. In addition it supplies specialised non-magnetic tools, cutting equipment – and even a rocket propelled wrench for extracting fuzes from unexploded ordnance."

Source: From press release

Additional vehicle armor delivered to Canada

April last year saw a strategic alliance formed between Canada's DEW Engineering and ArmorWorks of Chandler Arizona.

At that time Tim Dear, DEW President, said "The first of many projects we are focusing on is mine blast attenuating seats. They are not in themselves a panacea against Improvised Explosive Devices (IED), but when installed in the right vehicle with ballistic, fragment and blast overpressure protection, they are the final link to save lives."

ArmorWorks has announced the early completion and delivery of a production contract to deliver vehicle armor to Canadian special operations forces.

These are the same type of advanced armor protection provided by ArmorWorks that are currently used by U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Sources: Press releases

Army helmets to gather data on blast impact

Tom Vanden Brook, USA Today, writes "The Army's Program Executive Office (PEO) Soldier has outfitted the helmets of soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division with sensors to gauge the violent shaking that occurs when improvised explosive devices (IEDs) blow up near them, said Brig. Gen. Mark Brown ...

So far, 1,145 soldiers have received helmet sensors, according to Debi Dawson, a spokeswoman for PEO Soldier, which is charged with rapidly developing and fielding equipment needed for combat. Soldiers received the sensors last month and will deploy to Afghanistan in the spring."

Source: USA Today

Photo:: U.S. Army

Successful strategy snubbed for years

" ... a USA TODAY investigation shows that the strategy now used to defeat the bombmaking networks and stabilize Iraq was ignored or rejected for years by key decision-makers. As early as 2004, when roadside bombs already were killing scores of troops, a top military consultant invited to address two dozen generals offered a "strategic alternative" for beating the insurgency and IEDs.

That plan and others mirroring the counterinsurgency blueprint that the Pentagon now hails as a success were pitched repeatedly in memos and presentations during the following two years, at meetings that included then-Defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Vice President Cheney's chief of staff, Lewis "Scooter" Libby."

Source: USA Today

New jammer enters market

Homeland Security Strategies, Inc. (HSS) has announced a new IED pre-detonation system called GAUNTLET.

This system has been designed to be "used by Bomb Squad and Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) teams to initiate the detonation of an explosive device, can also be configured for Anti-Terrorism Force Protection (ATFP) and used to defend against Vehicle-Borne IED’s (VBIED) and Suicide Bombers Victim Operated IED’s (VOIED) by providing an RF pinch-point at a safe standoff distance."

Sources: Press Release, Company site

CREWS contract awarded

The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded the CREWS contract to Northrop Grumman, Sierra Nevada and ITT.

"... $16,059,687 ... for the design, development and delivery of seven development models for Spiral 3.1 dismounted and seven development models for Spiral 3.2 Mounted Counter Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device (RCIED) Electronic Warfare (CREW) systems" (DoD Press Release No. 1384-07)

Spiral 3.1 CREW systems are dismounted jammers designed to prevent the initiation of Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Devices (RC-IED). Spiral 3.2 systems are the mounted version.

The reaction of Allen-Vanguard is here.

Sources: As cited.