Afghan Army, Police to Get Handheld Detectors As IED Violence Escalates
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The Afghan National Army and Police will be getting handheld explosives detection devices thanks to the U.S. Army, which has purchased $6.8 million worth of the Fido XTis made by ICx Technologies. As part of the contract, ICx will also provide in-country training and support services. The company began shipping units at the end of June.
Insurgents have been stepping up their use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in Afghanistan. On July 6/09, the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) reported that 6 service members were killed in IED explosions. Their nationalities were not released, but the LA Times reported that they were U.S. service members. And on June 22/09, the ISAF said that 6 Afghan civilians were killed and 26 wounded when two IEDs exploded in Khost city in eastern Afghanistan.
DID has more on the Fido XTi and an additional counter-IED contract to Nitek…
The Fido XTi, the international version of the Fido XT, features a modified user-interface, weighs less than 3 pounds, and provides trace detection of explosive materials or contamination.
Fido uses a polymer-based technology to achieve faster explosive detection results, ICx explains. It helps users pinpoint people involved in the construction, transportation and deployment of explosive devices. Even after a positive detection result, screening operations can continue uninterrupted. Fido allows users to locate trace amounts of explosive materials, verify their results and continue screening the surrounding area or additional personnel. This capability also enables Fido to be mounted as a payload on a robot. DID’s MTRS to the Rescue! RadioShack Replaced? has more on the use of robots for explosive detection.
In addition, the Army’s Communications-Electronic Command Contracting Center-Washington in Alexandria, VA awarded June 30/09 a $38.2 million firm-fixed-price contract (W909MY-09-C-0069) to Nitek in Sterling, VA for 50 Husky Mounted Detection Systems (HMDS), initial spare parts, and HMDS support for an urgent requirement in support of counter-IED operations in Afghanistan. Executing the undefinitized contract action under urgent and compelling authority provides enhanced capabilities to deployed troops in an expedited timeframe. Nitek will perform the work in Sterling, VA with an estimated completion date of June 30/10.
