JIN to be Freed? Ionatron/ Applied Energetics Counter-IED Contract

On June 6/08, Applied Energetics, Inc. in Tucson, AZ received a $9.3 million cost plus fixed fee contract for the continued development and production of 10 anti-mine systems, plus spares, operator training and technical support for an overseas operational assessment. Work will be performed in Tucson, AZ, and is expected to be complete by June 3/09. One bid was solicited on April 3/08 by the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command (ARDEC) at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD (W91CRB-08-C-0080). See also the corporate release.

LIPC demonstrator

Applied Energetics used to be known as Ionatron, and DID has covered Ionatron-related contracts since May 2005, when the firm was also the subject of scrutiny by Defense Tech regarding its legitimacy. The firm saw its Joint IED Neutralizer (JIN) anti-mine vehicle denied deployment to the front lines in 2006, and in May 2006 they signed a cooperation agreement with DRS to help integrate their energy-beam weapons into a different set of vehicles, and make them more robust. Additional research funds to develop its Laser-Guided Energy (LGE)/ Laser-Induced, Plasma-Channel (LIPC) weapons were provided in April 2007, and this contract appears to be the final development phase before initial fielding.

2 Finnish Helsinki Class FACs to Croatia

Croatia

by Igor Tabak

Croatia’s famous Adriatic coastline is warmer than Finland’s, but its geography of long coastlines and near-shore islands in a narrow body of water lends itself to similar naval solutions and requirements. On July 17/08 Croatia purchased two Fast Attack Craft (FACs) vessels from Finland, which are well suited to near shore and coastal patrol. Croatian Minister of Defense Branko Vukelicand “Patria Aviation Oy” representatives Ilkka Jaakkola and Risto Marjomaa signed the actual contract on the purchase of 300t Helsinki Class FACs Oulu (62) and Kotka (63) in Zagreb. Ownership of these vessels has now been transferred.

This naval acquisition was not foreseen in the list of goals stated within its “Armed forces long term development plan 2006-2015”. As such, it can be seen as a opportunity seized. That is also the view brought forth by the Croatian authorities. Croatian Defense Minister Vukelic stated that Patria’s representatives recently informed the Croatian authorities of the possibility, and due consideration found the 2 vessels to be highly compatible with the FACs already in Croatian naval service.

• The Vessels
  
• Technology Similarities
  
• New Technologies for Croatia
  
• The Deal
  
• Conclusion
  
• Updates and Events [NEW]