Northrop Grumman Gets $16 Million Contract to Jam IEDs

The Department of Defense reports that it has awarded a contract to Northrop Grumman Space and Mission Systems Corporation to develop the Spiral 3.1 and Spiral 3.2, mounted and dismounted Counter Radio Controlled Improvised Explosive Device units. These two systems will help troops in the field to counteract roadside bombs that are triggered by radio control, IEDs.

The contract is worth $16,059,687 and is to design, develop and deliver the items, which are expected to be finished in June of 2009.

Seven models of the 3.1 and three of the 3.2 are expected.

Part of the package will include support for engineering, training of troops, maintenance to keep the items working in the field and repair. The contract is to develop these things, not actually deploy the Spirals in the field.

Dismounted units are carried by troops on the ground, while mounted units are carried aboard vehicles. Both provide a sophisticated radio jamming capability to troops fighting insurgents. When the units are deployed it will be easier for them to jam the radio message that sets off the bombs.

It is expected that the systems will be used heavily in the Central Command area, which means Iraq, as well as other areas of the world threatened by such bombs. They may also be installed as a preventive measure in areas newly threatened by terrorism. Traditional targets of terrorism, like embassies, bases, ships, and government buildings may also ultimately benefit from the systems, though the contract is essentially for military applications.

The United States Navy is responsible for such electronic warfare systems. Often, a Navy person is deployed on ground in Iraq to help Marine or Army units jam insurgent radio controlled weapons, and their efforts have saved many lives. The new systems will help fill a gap between older technologies and emerging ones.

The Navy has engaged in advanced electronic warfare for years, even during the Cold War period, when it was used for intelligence gathering against the Soviet Union. Submarines sometimes use similar though less portable technologies, as do ships and even airplanes, which sometimes project a shadow radar image to fool enemy radars.

Lately, Iran has decreased its intervention in Iraq, but when it was more active it was providing insurgents with advanced radio equipment and bomb triggering devices. It could do so again at any time.

The new systems are designed to counter such threats that are already in existence, as well as anticipate future innovations by the enemy.

Contracts, Department of Defense