Sierra Nevada Corp. in Sparks, NV received 2 follow-up orders to supply Joint Counter Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device Electronic Warfare (JCREW) 3.1 dismounted systems to meet the requirements of US troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Dismounted JCREW systems are electronic jammers designed to prevent the initiation of radio-controlled improvised explosive devices (RCIED).

Under the original contract (N00024-09-C-6306) awarded June 2009, Sierra Nevada is to provide up to 2,500 JCREW 3.1 dismounted systems, support equipment and services, and additional long-lead time material, for a total contract value of $248.3 million.

Sierra has received 2 contract modifications on that original contract worth $106.9 million to supply parts and material for the JCREW dismounted systems…

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CREW Duke V2 System

The US Army Communications-Electronics Life Cycle Management Command awarded SRCTec a 5-year indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract (W15P7T-09-D-M615) worth up to $700 million for Counter Remote Control Improvised Explosive Devices (RCIED) Electronic Warfare (CREW) Duke V2 system upgrades. The initial order is worth $188 million.

The SRCTec CREW Duke system is a vehicle-mounted electronic jammer designed to prevent the remote detonation of land mines. The CREW Duke V2 is the US Army’s CREW 2.0 system, comparable to the Joint CREW (JCREW) 2.1, according to Lisa Mondello, a SRCTec spokesperson. The Duke V2 Upgrade improves the Duke’s capability to the level of the JCREW 3.2 system, she added. For DID coverage of the JCREW systems, click here.

The CREW Duke system was developed to provide US forces protection against a range of RCIED threats…

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Minding the Mine

Booz Allen Hamilton in Herndon, VA received a $19.3 million contract to provide the U.S. Naval Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technical Division with survivability/vulnerability analyses, assessment and evaluations. The contract (SP0700-03-D-1380) is being awarded as part of the Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center (SURVIAC) program managed by Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio.

The Naval Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technical Division in Indian Head, MD provides engineering and technical services in support of Joint service explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) programs and other customer requirements. The division focuses its efforts in the following areas: developing EOD procedures to counter munitions threats; developing tools and equipment to meet EOD operational needs; and performing in-service engineering, depot level management and repair for EOD tools and equipment.

DID has more on the work being done under the SURVIAC program…

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Sierra Nevada Corp. in Sparks, NV won a $36.5 million firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost-only contract for production of Joint Counter Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device Electronic Warfare (JCREW) 3.1 dismounted systems to meet the requirements of U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Dismounted JCREW systems are electronic jammers designed to prevent the initiation of radio-controlled improvised explosive devices (RCIED). ITT Corp., which supplies the JCREW 2.1 vehicle mounted system, and Northrop Grumman were also competing for this contract.

According to the FedBizOpps solicitation, Sierra Nevada will provide 200 JCREW 3.1 dismounted systems, support equipment and services, and additional long-lead time material. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would result in Sierra Nevada supplying an additional 2,300 systems for a cumulative value of $248.3 million. The contract includes 9,000 hours of engineering support services (ESS) for the initial 200 systems and 13,000 hours of ESS for the option quantity of 2,300 systems, field service representative support in-theater, depot level repair material and services, spares, and associated technical data.

Sierra Nevada will perform the work in Sparks, NV (90%) and Rancho Cordova, CA (10%), and expects to complete it by December 2010. This contract was competitively procured via the FedBizOpps website, with 3 proposals solicited and 3 offers received by the Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, DC (N00024-09-C-6306). See also Sierra Nevada release.

Symphony on Iraqi vehicle
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Vehicle mounted systems are one element of the USA’s Joint Counter Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device (RCIED) Electronic Warfare (JCREW 2) program. Lockheed Martin’s Symphony IED Jammer System is a programmable, vehicle mounted radio-frequency IED jammer with a role that’s similar to other fielded systems including Elisra’s EJAB, as well as ICE and ITT’s Warlock/ JCREW.

Neither Lockheed nor the Army are releasing details concerning the Symphony system, but it is known to come from the Canadian/UK firm Allen-Vanguard, who also acts in this capacity for General Dynamics ATP via their Med-Eng subsidiary. Outside the USA, Allen-Vanguard supplies jamming devices directly to Canada, Australia, and various European militaries. Symphony orders are continuing, and the latest addition reaches back several months to highlight its deployment with Iraqi forces…

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XM-7 Spider System
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The XM-7 Spider program was established to develop alternatives to persistent antipersonnel landmine in Korea along the de-militarized zone. Spider is more of a “remote explosive device” than a typical fire-and-forget land mine. It is detonated by soldier command, and that soldier can even use non-lethal canisters if those have been loaded.

Unlike conventional land mines, the XM-7 Spider always has a known location, and can be safely recovered with ease and and readied for a new deployment if it has not been fired. If that isn’t possible for some reason, the units will deactivate after a set time period so they won’t become a future threat. The XM-7 is the successor to the Matrix system deployed in Iraq, and part of the USA’s Non-Self-Destructing Anti-Personnel Landmine Alternatives (NSD-A) program.

• Anatomy of a Spider
• The XM-7 Spider Program
• Contracts and Key Events
• Additional Readings
  
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Ronco Consulting Corp. in Washington, DC received a $16.5 million firm-fixed-price contract for de-mining and unexploded explosive ordnance removal in Afghanistan. Work will be performed in Afghanistan, and is expected to be complete by March 28, 2008. There were 414 bids solicited on Feb. 25, 2007, and 2 bids were received (popular job, evidently). The Joint Contracting Command – Iraq/Afghanistan in Baghdad, Iraq issued the contracts (W91B4N-07-F-0028).

Since 1981, Ronco Consulting has worked extensively on more than 300 development projects, and over 200 mine and unexploded ordnance (UXO) clearance, explosive ordnance disposal (EOD), and security projects around the world. The firm is currently operational in Afghanistan (including both aid work and work in “the scariest place I had ever seen”), Sudan, Eritrea, Iraq, Lebanon, Mozambique, Sri Lanka – and even stateside in the USA. By most accounts, however, Afghanistan is the most heavily mined country in the world; a souvenir from the Soviet era.

Ronco Consulting is hiring, but be aware that they’re a “drug-free workplace.” Damn, we sure would hope so.

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(click to view full)

The Naval Facilities Engineering Command Washington in Washington, DC has issued contracts for construction of facilities at Indian Head, MD related to explosives disposal and counter-IED work. NAVSEA’s Energetics Center also resides at Indian Head, which makes it an appropriate location to address issues like IED land mines.

Thus far, all contracts have been awarded to John C. Grimberg Co., Inc. of Rockville, MD.

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APOBS

The Anti-Personnel Obstacle Breaching System (APOBS) is used to clear areas and create footpaths for troops moving in an area with mines or wire obstacles. It replaces the Bangalore Torpedo, which was heavier, took longer to set up, and required four times the number of people to carry.

Now small business qualifier Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Co. in Simsbury, CT has received a $12.6 million indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract for production, testing, and delivery of APOBS. Video of APOBS in action can be found on the company’s web site [QuickTime, Low-Res 182 kb | Hi-Res 1.2 MB]. This contract also has the potential to increase in value very significantly…

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AN/PSS-14 at work

In late December 2005, DID noted that the USA has spent $1 billion on humanitarian land-mine removal over the last 10 years. A year ago, on August 16, 2005, we noted a $38 million contract to CyTerra for its AN/PSS-14 (formerly HSTAMIDS) Mine Detection Sets. Someone must have liked them, because L-3 recently announced that its March 2006 acquisition CyTerra has received a 10-year, $300 million contract for over 17,000 more sets as well as Sweep Monitoring Systems for training, Training Target Sets, and worldwide training and support. The value of the first order is approximately $24 million. The US Army and Marines currently have about 2,000 delivered sets in their possession. See corporate release.

Cyterra is an excellent example of the small-mid cap dynamic in the US defense sector generally.

The AN/PSS-14 employs a state-of-the-art metal detector and ground penetrating radar (GPR), coupled with an advanced microprocessor array and software in order to achieve a high probability of detection (in excess of 95%) for both large and small metallic and even nonmetallic antitank and antipersonnel mines. They’ve even been used to find underground pipes in civilian applications. It also significantly reduces the number of false targets or alarms. The apparatus weighs approximately eight pounds, uses standard batteries and can be operated by a single Soldier. See this U.S. Army page re: all countermine equipment in current use.

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