Too Thor to Go Off: The FY 2012 EOD Jammer Buy
At the end of August 2012, Sierra Nevada Corp. in Sparks, NV received a $65.8 million contract modification for AN/PLT-5 jamming transmitters, to support the US military’s explosive ordnance (EOD) disposal teams under the EOD Counter Radio Controlled Improvised Explosive Device Electronic Warfare (CREW) program. Most of this contract will supply the US Army (92.3%), though some will go to the Navy (7.1%), and Marines (0.6%). The US Naval Surface Warfare Center’s Indian Head Division in Indian Head, MD manages the contract (N00174-09-D-0003).
Discussions with SNC pinpointed the jammers’ type and fit. SNC’s AN/PLT-5 (Thor II) is a small and relatively light weight electronic countermeasure system against remotely triggered mines. It fits to vehicles, and is based on SNC’s successful baseline Thor technology. The Navy’s NAVEODTECHDIV buys the gear and manages the program for all EOD forces in the US military. Thor II is not considered one of the JCREW jamming systems, which are managed by the Navy’s PMS-408. Do not confuse it with the AN/PLQ-9 (Thor III) JCREW 3.1 system for dismounted infantry.
