In the trenchesSafer ride: Lockheed ,A-V deliver vehicle-mounted anti-IED devices
IEDs kill more U.S. and coalition soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan than any other weapon used by militants; Lockheed Martin received a $940 million contract to produce a counter-IED jamming device, and the first of these vehicle-mounted systems are being delivered to the theater.
Good news for U.S. soldiers in the theater: Lockheed and Allen-Vanguard have delivered the first anti-IED devices to the field. Vehicle-mounted systems are one element of the U.S. Joint Counter Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device (RCIED) Electronic Warfare (JCREW 2) program.
Lockheed Martin Maritime Systems and Sensors in Manassas, Virginia, received a $940 million maximum value 5-year contract (if all options are exercised), beginning with an initial $40.7 million order, for the production and delivery of SYMPHONY improvised explosive device jammer systems, as well as field test sets, operator reference cards, uploader software, user guides, program protection, tool kits, depot support, field and engineering services, and system documentation “in support of allied coalition and partner nations.”
The Symphony IED Jammer System is a programmable, vehicle mounted radio-frequency IED jammer with a role that is similar to other fielded systems, including Elisra’s EJAB, as well as ICE and ITT’s Warlock/ JCREW. DID notes that neither Lockheed nor the U.S. Army are releasing details concerning the Symphony system, but it is known to come from the Canadian/U.K. firm Allen-Vanguard, which also acts in this capacity for General Dynamics ATP via their Med-Eng subsidiary. Outside the United States, Allen-Vanguard supplies jamming devices directly to Canada, Australia, and various European militaries.
Work on SYMPHONY will be performed in Clearwater, Florida (77 percent); Manassas, Virginia (22 percent); and in theater and locations out the contiguous United States (1 percent). Work is expected to be complete by September 2014.
